Pennsylvania Ambulance Dedicated to 'Sandy'

In tribute to a longtime benefactor, the Ligonier Valley Ambulance Service dedicated its newest ambulance to Sandra Mellon, vice chairwoman of the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation.

The TraumaHawk is now inscribed with the name "Sandy" on its doors.

"Sandy has always been a staunch supporter of our efforts," said Keith Stouffer, Ligonier Valley Ambulance Service supervisor. "She was there at the beginning of the ambulance service, so it was fitting to name our newest ambulance after her."

The tradition of naming ambulances began in 1967 with the purchase of the service's first two vehicles, "EROW" or Emergency Room on Wheels, and "Snow White." The names were used when the ambulances were dispatched.

"EROW came equipped with everything that was used in a hospital's emergency room," Stouffer said. "There was a generator and extra equipment so in a disaster situation the EMTs could do surgeries."

When the service purchased its third ambulance, "Bluebird," it was stationed at Latrobe Area Hospital and staffed with an ER nurse and an emergency medical technician.

Vivian Perian was a registered nurse working in the hospital emergency room when colleague Virginia Markovich asked her to join the ambulance service. The Ligonier Valley resident began her ambulance nursing duties in October 1967 and retired in June 1993.

"I had to go to EMT school and take paramedic classes to be certified," Perian said. "For 26 years, I was a registered nurse, emergency medical technician and a paramedic. We put in a lot of hours in those days."

Markovich retired from ambulance duty in 1992 and an ambulance was named after her. In 1994 and 1995, new ambulances were dedicated and named after Perian and Dwayne "Skeeter" Craig. To date, they are the only crew members to have retired from the service.

"I always loved emergency work," Perian said. "When I was in nursing school I wrote my senior thesis on being an ambulance nurse, never dreaming that I would become one. My dream came true."

The ambulance service purchases a new vehicle about every two years, Stouffer said.

"We get about four years out of an ambulance or about 300,000 miles," he added.

The "Sandy" features a magnetic braking system and electrical oxygen system so there's no need to turn valves on and off. The vehicle also is equipped with safety features for the crew in case of an accident, Stouffer said.

"I think so highly of the ambulance service and what it does for the community," Mellon said. "If I ever need an ambulance, I'm going to ask for 'Sandy.'"

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