October 10, 2024 |
Photo – Representatives from MHCC and HF Sinclair pose with new ambulance – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County received a brand-new ambulance thanks to a generous donation from the H.F. Sinclair Corporation.
On Tuesday afternoon, Memorial Hospital officials held an unveiling event for a newly received ambulance.
On December 21st, 2022, Memorial Hospital EMTs Tiffany Gruetzmacher and Tyeler Harris were responding to a crash on I-80 when they were struck by a semi-truck. Gruetzmacher suffered major injuries and was transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and later recovered. Harris was tragically killed in the incident.
The ambulance was also destroyed.
After two years of waiting, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County finally received a new ambulance. During yesterday’s unveiling, Hospital Director of Strategic Operations Stephanie Hinkle said the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Foundation asked H.F. Sinclair for a $100,000 grant to purchase the new ambulance. Hinkle said the new vehicle will save lives.
Memorial Hospital Emergency Room Director Dan Starr said the new ambulance was ordered with a few specific options needed in Wyoming, such as four-wheel drive, high intensity LED lighting, and a deer guard. Starr also explained that the medical transport vehicle comes equipped with powered oxygen tank and stretcher lifters to help first responders move patients and heavy equipment.
On top of the standard assortment of decals, such as identifying letters and numbers, the new ambulance also has a sticker of a dinosaur. The dinosaur decal serves to acknowledge H.F. Sinclair’s financial contribution toward the purchase.
Strategic Director Hinkle told Bigfoot99 that Memorial Hospital has been waiting for the new ambulance for two years. As the delivery date approached, Hinkle said the hospital foundation asked H.F. Sinclair for $100,000 to help cover the cost of the new vehicle.
Hinkle said the Wyoming State Lands and Investment Board provided an additional $150,000 grant toward the ambulance purchase. The remaining money, roughly $150,000, came from Memorial Hospital’s budget.
With the acquisition, Memorial Hospital now has four ambulances. Hinkle said vast distances between communities and general wear and tear means that Memorial Hospital must occasionally rotate new vehicles into its fleet.
Hinkle said the proposed taxpayer funded hospital district will help Memorial Hospital of Carbon County afford to replace its outdated and unsafe ambulances.
The creation of the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County hospital district will be on Rawlins, Sinclair, and Hanna residents’ general election ballots next month.
