HORACE, N.D. – Essentia Health and Southern Valley Fire and Rescue expand emergency medical care to small towns and townships in the area.
The fire department can now operate its quick response units at an advanced life support level. This was made possible from a $40,000 donation from Essentia Health that went to the purchase of two advanced defibrillators and cardiac monitors. Southern Valley Fire officials say their call volume has increased by 33% since 2022.
The fire department serves Briarwood, Horace, Hickson, Oxbow, Wild Rice, Prairie Rose, Frontier and St. Benedict and Stanley Township, Pleasant Township and parts of Warren Township.
“Our crews are often the first on scene for medical emergencies, and those first minutes matter,” Southern Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Mahoney said. “This partnership with Essentia Health has helped us build the structure and capabilities needed to deliver more advanced care prior to ambulance transport arrival. This will allow patients to potentially receive life-saving interventions without delay and support better patient outcomes.”
“We are proud to help Southern Valley Fire and Rescue not only meet the growing demand for area EMS services, but also to advance the level of care they can provide,” Essentia Health Associate Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christopher Anderson said. “This partnership aligns with our mission to make a healthy difference in our communities, and this is a way we can help our neighboring communities receive the care they need when they need it.”
