Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Oxford EMS gets due thanks

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Council honors unit's 46 years

By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        OXFORD — Many things have changed since the Oxford Life Squad started in the village in 1954.

        Oxford is now a city. Miami University's population has grown to 16,000 students. The once-tiny squad serves Oxford, Oxford Township, MU and half of Milford Township.

Oxford Fire Chief Len Endress. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        But one constant remains: The squad consists entirely of volunteers.

        “We have people from the community and university students,” Fire Chief Len Endress said. “Some students serve on their squads at home, and they want to keep up their skills here. We've been using them since 1977. It has worked out really well for both of us.”

        To honor the squad's achievements, Oxford City Council has proclaimed the week of May 14-20 as Emergency Medical Services Week, Mayor William Snavely said.

        Emergency medical squads are “the safety net of America's health care system,” he said.

        Said Chief Endress: “When the squad was started, there was no hospital here. A group of firemen had been using an old bread truck. So the ladies auxiliary made aprons and sold them out of the fire house to raise money for the squad.”

        At the time, the nearest hospital was Fort Hamilton, on Hamilton's west side. “Many times the squad would transport a patient to a doctor's office here in town,” he said. “The first year, there was about 15 calls; last year, we had 1,260 EMS calls.”

        The squad has always been a part of Oxford's fire department.

        Its 30 members now cover 54 square miles.

        “Everyone carries a pa ger,” the chief said. “We are just starting to have a little problem with recruiting. We've been fortunate. We've staved off the trouble that other squads started experiencing a few years ago. We're always looking for people who are willing to run squad.”

        On May 20, the squad will display equipment at Wal-Mart on South Locust Street. Officers will be available to talk to the public.

       

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