‘The difference between life and death'
CENTER TWP — People calling 911 for medical emergencies in certain regions of Butler County now may see a fire department vehicle pulling up to them instead of an ambulance.
Mike Pflugh, chief of Unionville Volunteer Fire Company, said the department became certified to respond to high-priority medical calls in March 2022. In August, the department began being dispatched to higher-priority medical calls, with several staff members being certified RNs and EMTs.
“We can get anywhere in Center Township faster than Slippery Rock Ambulance can,” said Nathan Wulff, assistant chief of Unionville VFC. “Once the ambulance gets there, more hands are always beneficial, particularly when you're talking cardiac arrest; that's a difficult call for two people to manage.”
