Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said it has been a long road, but the addition of a ninth-full time ambulance unit for Hardin County EMS to be housed at the West Hardin Fire and Rescue station in White Mills is an important step in making the county safer.
“This is the first time our residents will have access to a full-time ambulance crew dedicated to serving this area, and this is not just another addition to our county services; it is a life-saving milestone,” Taul said.
Taul was joined by government and emergency services officials for a push-in ceremony Monday to mark the official launch of the ambulance unit. He said the current average response time for the White Mills area is 30 minutes, but the new ambulance is expected to cut that time in half.
Seventh District Magistrate Larry Hicks represents White Mills. He credited the hard work of multiple entities and community members for making the addition of the ambulance possible, and said this isn’t just the arrival of an ambulance; it’s the arrival of hope.
“In this rural area where distances are long and resources can be stretched very thin, minutes matter in an emergency,” Hicks said. “This new ambulance is not just metal and wheels; it’s a lifeline.”
Hardin County EMS Director Mark Peterson said county first responders are ready to get to work.
“If one life is saved because of this addition, then it was all well worth it, so on behalf of the supervisors, EMTs, advanced EMTs, paramedics, and the admin staff of Hardin County EMS: we are here, we are excited to be part of the community, and we are ready to answer the call,” Peterson said.
The White Mills ambulance joins three ambulances stationed in Elizabethtown, three in Radcliff, one in Sonora, and one at the Hardin County Detention Center. An updated service map was posted to the Hardin County Government Facebook page.