BRINGING NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES TO NEW CASTLE, KENTUCKY

In one of our state’s oldest and smallest towns, the volunteer fire department is making big changes.

While historic New Castle is located just 35 miles up the road from Louisville, it is a world away when it comes to emergency response services. Perhaps no one knows this better than David Stewart, a firefighter/paramedic who moved there this Spring– at the suggestion of his nephew, a New Castle EMT. “I’m an old firefighter who’s new to this department,” he says. “I’m a firefighter medic who has worked all over the world-- from Hikes Point to Germany-- and like all of these guys, I have that sensation of wanting to serve, of wanting to protect. And I’m committed to helping them build a medical response program because they don’t have one.” Tiny New Castle shares EMT services with neighboring towns in Henry County where the wait for an ambulance can be long-- so having medical emergency equipment on the fire truck that shows up first is critical. 

   “New Castle is a very low income city and volunteer departments get their funding from taxes,” says Stewart. “So they’re still using trucks that are ten years old. They have two engines and a tanker and that primary engine is first response, but they have no resources for medical supplies or training. When the fire truck shows up with no airbags or oxygen, patients in critical condition don’t fare very well.”

The first shipment from SOS has already altered that grim reality. It came about when Dave connected with former colleague and SOS lead volunteer Sue Davis who helped him envision how his skills and SOS supplies could dramatically improve the emergency readiness of his crew. Stewart's initial order was quickly doubled by Local Program Manager Brian Jointer who was shocked to learn that the trucks were lacking even basic first aid like gauze. “Brian has earned his wings and his halo because we are fully equipped beyond expectations,” says Stewart. “And Sue made thirty-one first aid kits– enough for every volunteer team member. Some of the young guys I’ve given them out to, you would have thought I handed them their first GI Joe on Christmas.”

With training already underway and every truck fully equipped for first response emergencies, the 1,500 residents of New Castle can rest easier knowing that their fire team is prepared to act quickly in medical emergencies. “This one shipment brings us into the 21st century,” says Stewart. “Please let your donors know that the whole fire department family is excited and grateful-- and even our new recruits know that everything just changed for the better.”