Until the late 1980s the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad was strictly an emergency transport service, with medically trained volunteers driving patients to Indian River Memorial Hospital in vehicles such as this.
It’s early Friday and the sun is barely up as John Majewski strides into the small building the Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad calls home. Just like clockwork, John, along with Tom Woods and Charlie Thayer, is reporting duty.
April Hargett, the not-for-profit organization’s administrator, knows she can count on the three regulars to drive patients to their non-emergency medical appointments. Sometimes it’s to see a doctor or dentist while other times it could be for physical therapy, kidney dialysis, X-rays or cancer treatments. Without the Friday crew and other dedicated drivers most of those needing rides wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Every day, Monday through Friday, year in, year out, volunteers working in teams check in by 8 a.m., pick up their clipboards with the day’s schedule and a walkie-talkie, and head out. They pride themselves on knowing their way around the county and if there’s a tie-up due to construction they quickly find an alternate route.
Read the entire article in the March 2005
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