The new EMS base at State and Tyler streets.
Better-organized medical supplies in the new facility.
Story and photos by Allison Todd (click on photos to enlarge)
EDITOR’S NOTE: WNLP is happy to introduce Allison Todd, our summer intern. Allison grew up in LaPorte and is a sophomore at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI, majoring in journalism and minoring in communications. She works as an editor of her school paper. Allison also plays in the pep band and a brass quintet on campus.
The waiting is finished. The LaPorte County EMS Station moved into its new base on June 18, 2015, a great improvement over its former cramped quarters adjacent to the hospital.
The base, at the corner of State and Tyler streets, took about a year and a half from design to the completion of the building.
EMS Administrator Andrew McGuire
Andrew McGuire has been LaPorte County EMS administrator for one year and assisted with the design of the new building.
“I’m just extremely happy that it’s finished,” McGuire said. “It started with just some doodling on a piece of paper and went all the way from that to a finished building.”
The LaPorte County Council funded about half of the new base, and the other half was a generous donation by IU Health LaPorte.
“To finally see the ambulances in there and see them functioning out of that building is just amazing,” McGuire said. “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m
WNLP intern Allison Todd
glad it’s completed. We couldn’t have done it without the help of the hospital.”
Jen Kelly, a lieutenant at the EMS station and with the station since 2006, said the new building is much more spacious and all the medical equipment is better organized.
“The kitchen is really nice. It’s a lot bigger than it used to be,” Kelly said. “There is a brand new kitchen table, and it’s nice for all of us to sit at for lunch or dinner when we can.
“We’re excited to be in this new building,” she said. “We’ve been waiting for it for a while and I know a lot of hard work was put into it to get it together.”
An open house is being planned for the building toward the end of July with official date still to come.
An interior shot of an ambulance ready and waiting at the base.
The larger kitchen to accommodate EMS personnel in their down time.