KNOX, Pa. (EYT) – Emergency medical services aren’t cheap, and those that provide them — particularly in rural communities — continue to face the cash crunch.

On Saturday, at Horsethief Days in Knox, one of the two ambulances in the Knox Area Ambulance Service broke down during Saturday evening’s parade.

For Donna Schreffler, Director of Operations and a paramedic with Knox EMS, it was a sight she has seen often over the last several months.

“We need a new ambulance; there’s no question. We’ve had 60 calls already this month, and we need to have something we can rely on,” Schreffler said. “Saturday, after it broke down during the parade, it was pushed back to the parking area. Two hours later, we started it up and pulled it into the garage.”

Schreffler explained that a new engine was put in the 2003 unit six months ago, but that hasn’t solved the ambulance’s problems of breaking down.

“Six different mechanics have taken a look at it, and none of them have been able to figure it out,” Schreffler said.

Schreffler explained the costs associated with running the EMS company.

“Our yearly budget is $290,000.00, which may seem like it’s a lot, but it’s not. We have paramedics saving lives who are making less than $10.00 an hour. A brand-new ambulance costs $150,000.00 and to have it properly equipped, it costs $300,000.00.”

“A heart monitor costs $50,000.00, a stretcher costs $27,000.00, a stair chair costs $7,000.00, and these are things that we must have. The state Department of Health mandates that we have these things in each unit,” Schreffler said.

Knox EMS is looking into purchasing a used ambulance because of the high cost of a new one, according to Schreffler.

The company does what it can to raise money and has had some very generous donations, but there are limited resources in small towns.

“We’ve had a hoagie sale, and we did a raffle on preseason Steelers tickets that were donated. We’ve had donations from groups in the area, the Rod & Gun Club, the Legion Riders.”

“The American Legion gave us $25,000.00, and we have some people in the community donating to us, and we have about 600 to 700 members, but there are so many expenses with things like fuel and insurance.”

“We do appreciate those people, and we are fortunate to have what we have here, but there’s gonna come a time when there is no ambulance service in Knox, and no one wants to see that happen,” Schreffler said.

For more information, call 814-797-2298.