Better times for Lackawaxen ambulance

Lackawaxen Volunteer Ambulance Service president Cathy Wargo reported to the township supervisors last week that the infusion of new money from a dedicated township tax millage charge has helped relieve the service’s volunteer availability problems.

Wargo said that as of January 24, the service has hired two full-time EMS staff to work daytime ambulance shifts on Monday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the hours when volunteers are least available. The service wants to hire two more.

In 2004, the service was able to respond to 70 percent of 250 calls, which included 30 motor vehicle accidents and 23 fire calls, she said.

At their March 16 meeting, the supervisors also agreed to Wargo’s request that they contact the Pike County Communications Center and request that the center dispatch Wayne County’s advanced life support (ALS) when ALS services are needed.