Mille Lacs Band donates ambulance to MLHS

By Bob Statz
Mille Lacs Messenger

Recently, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with the Mille Lacs Health System's Emergency Medical Service, completed a two-year project to provide an additional ambulance for emergency response in northern Mille Lacs County.

The project began with MLHS EMS Director Judy Oslin approaching the Band inquiring if there were any resources available to assist in helping replace one of their ambulances. Emergency management coordinator Monte Fronk knew of an ambulance program through the National Native American EMS Association which is operated by the federally funded Indian Health Service.

The IHS sponsors two funding programs: a shared cost lease program and a no-cost program called TRANSAM, which helps emergency response units obtain used serviceable ambulances.

With the aid of retired IHS employee Pete Decker, Fronk and Oslin were able to locate a Horton Type II Ambulance from the Voorhees Fire District in New Jersey. The used vehicle was shipped by flatbed to the Band. In turn, the Band donated the ambulance to the Mille Lacs Health System.

Details of the donation, which include recruiting a Mille Lacs Band member to become part of the MLHS EMT crew in Onamia, were worked out by Oslin and the Band's public safety director Sid Lucas. Both agreed that with increased calls to the Vineland area another ambulance would benefit all.

"It was a good collaborative effort of the Band and MLHS, and will benefit all north end citizens," Fronk said.

"A strong emergency medical response unit is vital to our system," MLHS CEO Dan Reiner said, regarding the Band's donation. "Certainly the addition of another ambulance will help our cause. We are most appreciative of the gift."