Cranberry excited for new EMS facility
CRANBERRY TWP — First responders and township officials gathered Tuesday afternoon to break ground on the new $1.6 million home of the Cranberry Township Emergency Medical Service.
The 7,200-square-foot building is financed by the township and rented to the independent Cranberry Township EMS for $3,200 a month over a five-year lease.
“The idea behind this new base station is to meet the emergency medical needs of our residents, businesses and visitors for another generation,” said Bruce Mazzoni, chairman of the township supervisors.
“And its use comes with a promise — which the EMS will provide our community with first-rate medical transport service.”
The building includes six vehicle bays and offices for staff and first responders.
It will be next to the township's Park Fire Station near the entrance to Community Park. It is expected to be ready for use later this year.
The ambulance service will continue to operate out of the Thomson Park Drive building it has rented from the Passavant Hospital Foundation for 20 years until it can move in the new building.
Jeff Kelly, Cranberry EMS executive director, is excited about the new facility and excited to get started there. He hopes the service can move in by November.
“We're going to be right here on Route 19 and more visible. Our current place doesn't meet our needs,” he said.
Scott Smith, vice president of the Cranberry EMS board, said, “I can assure you that everyone who has been associated with the Cranberry EMS in its current quarters is eager to move into this new building. It's going to be great. And, its central location will allow us to respond to calls in every part of the township even faster than before.”
He pointed out that because of cramped space at its current building, the service has to leave some of ambulances outdoors because there aren't enough bays in the garage. The ability to store equipment and supplies also is limited.
The new facility will help improve call response times. In the current location, responses can be delayed 1 to 2 minutes.
Mazzoni pointed out that the EMS service is separate from the township government.
Its operations are financed by insurance, service fees, donations and subscriptions, not with tax dollars. The township doesn't pay anyone in the ambulance service. Except for some help with fuel and workers' compensation insurance, no township money is involved.
Don Scelza, chairman of the Cranberry Township EMS's board, signed the lease on Feb. 7 along with a companion agreement which commits the EMS to providing consistently high levels of service to township residents.
With its new home, Cranberry EMS wants to do more in the community.
It currently offers classes in CPR, AED, and first aid, but hopes to do more.
“We're looking into other ways we can provide what's now being called community para-medicine, activities that involve prevention, wellness, health screenings, in-home services and expanded partnerships with other health-related organizations,” said Smith.
The service began in 1969 as the Cranberry Township Ambulance Corps, a division of the township volunteer fire company.
It is staffed by 37 full and part time professionals and a handful of volunteers.
Last year, it answered 3,464 calls.
