Ambulance chasing pays off

The Goodhue County Red Cross typically spends about $4,000 a year tending to emergencies.

But a rash of house fires has already cost the organization $8,000 - just four months into its new fiscal year.

So when Executive Director Sarah Schuck thinks about the price tag for her chapter's latest addition, she's all smiles.

"It's something we'd dreamt about for many years," she said.

The chapter in June received a used ambulance from Gold Cross, Rochester's emergency service. Cost: Nothing.

Even the approximately $5,000 in painting and refurbishing costs were donated by area businesses and organizations.

The Gold Cross donation came as a welcome relief. Schuck had sought an emergency response vehicle for years, but held off because of cost projections.

Estimates ranged from $6,000 to $10,000 and would require extensive fundraising, she said.

Schuck said Gold Cross' policy is to donate retired ambulances to the Red Cross. The Rochester chapter didn't need one when offered, so Gold Cross looked for other southeastern Minnesota groups on the list.

"So we jumped on it," Schuck said.

The vehicle was delivered to the local chapter in June.

She plans to use the ambulance, already nicknamed GERV - short for Goodhue Emergency Response Vehicle - at disaster sites. The 10-year-old vehicle provides amble room to transport mass feeding for emergency workers and volunteers.

The vehicle also will offer a warm, comfortable space for disaster victims to complete Red Cross paperwork, Schuck said.

Red Cross volunteer Bill Eichenlab also will use the vehicle to haul a CPR dummy to various training locations.

Schuck expects the GERV to hit the streets within a couple weeks, while final decaling is completed. She noted that it would be activated earlier if a disaster strikes the area.

Tags: local news, goodhue county red cross, red wing minn