THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9602020555
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANNS HARBOR LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
It was 10 years in the works, but Dare County's mainland residents finally got their own emergency medical services station Thursday.
The brick and steel structure was opened in Manns Harbor at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, prompting cheers from more than 100 local residents and officials in attendance.
``This has been a long time coming,'' Dare County Commission Chairman R.V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. said. ``This was the last area. It was kind of left off the map as far as emergency services is concerned.''
Owens credits Clarence Skinner, the commission's vice-chairman, for his ``bulldog approach'' in getting the facility built.
``He just don't turn it loose,'' Owens said of Skinner.
The 35-foot by 65-foot building, located next to the fire station on Highway 64, boasts a living room, office, kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms and garage space for one ambulance.
The actual construction took about four months at a cost of $70,000. The station will serve the residents of Manns Harbor, Stumpy Point, East Lake and Mashoes.
Six EMS technicians will work at the station, with two at a time on-site around the clock.
``We are so proud of these people,'' Owens said.
The station will also welcome walk-ins by local residents for blood-pressure checks and other routine medical care.
``The folks over here are going to use this just like a little doctor's station,'' Skinner said.
He said people were interested in such a station in Manns Harbor for about 10 years, and he numbers himself as one of the many who ``bird-dogged it'' along.
``I congratulate the people on the mainland for their persistence,'' Skinner said. ``We have a quality health-care system in Dare County, and the folks here have been tied in a lot closer now with this station.''
Before the opening of the county's eighth EMS station, residents in and around Manns Harbor depended on emergency services from Manteo or sometimes Nags Head, Skinner said. In bad weather, the area could be cut off. With the new station, at least 15 minutes have been sliced from emergency services reaching Stumpy Point and East Lake.
Dare County employs 85 EMS technicians and operates 10 ambulances and one helicopter. Last year, emergency medical workers made 7,750 runs throughout the county. by CNB