Local amateur radio club gets new wheels

The Lifeguard Ambulance Service has retired an ambulance from service and has transferred the title to the Milton Amateur Radio Club. The ambulance will be re-fitted and converted to a communications van for use by the club in emergencies in service with the Amateur Radio Emergency Services of the American Radio Relay League.

According to Rudy Hubbard WA4PUP, ARRL section Manager for 45 counties north of Orlando, “This will be of great benefit both in local service and at times I am called on for ‘jump teams’; (volunteer operators) to assist in nearby counties.” Hubbard’s home club is the Milton club.
The re-outfitted vehicle will include high frequency, very high frequency and ultra high frequency communications equipment and in addition to emergencies will be available for community service in such events as bicycle races, 5K and 10K races, including events where it will serve as a central control point for other posted communications stations. These services are currently being performed by the club and will be significantly enhanced by the new vehicle.

Lifeguard, in making the vehicle available for the Milton Club’s service to Santa Rosans, is itself no stranger to community service. In one month alone it has provided over 200 staff hours to community projects: including participation in elementary school career days, medical standby at art festivals and the planning and preparation for the recent Relay for Life events. The company has also provided classroom space for a voluntary amateur radio pre-licensing course taught by Tom Manning AF4UG.

Currently, Lifeguard is in the process of remodeling the former Key Auto location on Avalon Boulevard as its new headquarters in a move from Pensacola. From Milton, it will service a seven state area. It is anticipated that its vice president, accounting department, and the human resources department will be relocated to Milton by the end of May.

The company also operates an air ambulance service with a fleet of aircraft, including a Cessna 421, three King Air aircraft, two Lear Jets, and a Citation Bravo Jet within its area.

Here at home it has set a record of 51 patient transports in 24 hours with an average response time of seven minutes and 28 seconds.
According to Jason Kimbrell, Lifeguard Operations Manager, “We anticipate even more improvements in Lifeguard services, and appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Milton Radio Club in its community service, because of the importance of these undertakings.”