Parrish finally gets home-based ambulance service

PARRISH -- At 9:17 a.m. Tuesday, the call went out over Manatee County's radio network, calling Medic 20 into service, and wishing good luck for the first Emergency Medical Services ambulance stationed in Parrish.

The positioning of the Advanced Life Support ambulance in Parrish reduces response times for the fast-growing area. It was celebrated with cake, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The first 24-hour ambulance added in Manatee County in more than eight years should reduce response times to Parrish emergencies, which had averaged about 20 minutes, according to county documents.

Previously, the closest primary response ambulance was at the North River Fire Station in Ellenton.

"Obviously, I think it would be wonderful if we could get an ambulance in Parrish. The community is growing by leaps and bounds," Parrish Fire Chief Michael Johnson previously said. "If the unit at Colony Cove is on call, then

it's a delay in getting an ambulance here. We don't have the capability of administering drugs or the level of expertise that the county EMS has."

Members of the Parrish Fire District unanimously approved a shared facility agreement April 26 with Manatee County, which allows the ambulance and crew to move into the Parrish fire station at 14132 U.S. 301 N.

Robert L. Smith, director of the Manatee County Public Safety Department, called the shared facility agreement the "last piece of the puzzle," which allowed Parrish to finally get its own ambulance.

Manatee County Commissioners approved the share facility agreement in March.

Public safety impact fees pay the $417,785 cost of the new ambulance and related equipment. Personnel and operating expenses for the ambulance this year are estimated at $263,000, paid for by ambulance charges.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 11:26 PM with the headline "Parrish finally gets home-based ambulance service ."