New Hinsdale Ambulance Coming Soon

The County Commissioners gave the Hinsdale Ambulance Service the final boost needed to purchase a new ambulance for western Valley County. Using monies raised from payments on low-interest rural development loans from decades past in Hinsdale, the commissioners were able to present the ambulance service with a check for $50,230.77 and bringing the campaign to the total amount needed to buy a new ambulance for just under $150,000.

County Commissioner John Fahlgren told the public while presenting the check, the idea came up while discussing using the funds which were supposed to go to the community of Hinsdale and be used to serve low-income persons and senior citizens. Concerns had arisen with federal regulators, that an ambulance service would not qualify to receive the funds. In response, Hinsdale Ambulance President Dorothy Jensen put together stats about how many senior citizens the service assisted yearly, and the funding was approved.

The commissioners were happy the funds could go to the community's ambulance service and that it would expedite the years-long process of buying a new ambulance. "These are some real dedicated people around Hinsdale keeping people safe," said Fahlgren adding that the grant was a large chunk of the overall purchase cost.

Jensen explained that the service will be upgrading significantly from a 1990s-era rig to a brand new, state-of-the-art 2020 ambulance (currently the rig, waiting for pick up in Kalispell, has only 30 miles on it). Paying for the vehicle has been nearly seven years in the making. The idea originated in the early 2010s and acquiring the large chunk of change took time, but thanks to donations from entities like TC Energy, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Frances Mahon Deaconess granted the service $25,000, the Markle's Foundation has made several contributions over the years, several private donors in Hinsdale and fundraisers like the annual pie auction (where the average pie sells for around $500) the community was able to garner over $100,000 for the purchase.

Jensen explained to the Courier the reasons for a new ambulance. Aside from the age, the current vehicle was unable to operate the myriad of new electronic equipment. With modern equipment requiring constant power, Jensen said it just, "doesn't have juice enough to keep everything going." She said the failure in power affects everything from "simple blood pressure" checks to monitoring equipment. "As soon as the ambulance starts, it's dead."

The new rig is scheduled for pick up in mid-April. The Hinsdale area may be without a rig for a few days-or a loaner may be brought in-while the service's equipment is swapped out and installed in the new rig around April 16 in Kalispell.

Hinsdale Ambulance member, Gregg Hunter, added that the new system has a number of other benefits, one of which is a HEPA filter used to filter particles and microbes out of the air and reduce environmental risks from things like infections. "Which is huge with the pandemic going on right now," he said.