Town of Beech Mountain issued the following announcement on Sep 10.
Town of Beech Mountain Receives $100K Donation for Emergency Medical Response Unit (EMRU)
At the August 10, 2021, Town of Beech Mountain Council Meeting, Town Manager and Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Pudney, announced the donation of $100,000 dollars from the Mountain Ambulance and Healthcare Foundation, for the startup of a 24-hour, full-time Emergency Medical Services Station on Beech Mountain.
At the July council meeting, councilmembers unanimously voted to proceed with establishing an EMS Station on Beech Mountain. “The Town Council strongly believes that we need to provide top-notch emergency medical services for our residents and visitors,” remarked Mayor Barry Kaufman. “We identified this need as one of our top five budget priorities this year and we are thankful to Dr. Miller and the foundation for help getting the project rolling.”
“I would like to say that this seed money for this life saving service is from all of you, our Beech Mountain Residents, who have generously donated to the Foundation in the past,” remarked Dr. Murray Miller at the council meeting. The Foundation spearheaded the first joint EMS Station located at the base of Beech Mountain in 2001. The ground for the station was donated by Lees McRae College and the project was supported by a grant from the Duke Foundation.
“In just a few years, we’ve almost doubled the number of families that are full-time residents on the mountain, and we are experiencing record-breaking visitors year-round,” remarked Chief Pudney. “Last year we received 275 emergency calls, 153 were medically related. Our emergency services need to keep pace with this new growth.”
Records show that EMS response time to calls on Beech Mountain this past year have been increasing. In some cases, individuals have had to wait more than an hour for an ambulance. This delay could mean the difference between life and death in heart attack, stroke, or head injuries.
Beech Mountain is the highest town in Eastern America and an ideal vacation spot in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Our elevation (5,506 feet) sets us apart 12 months a year. The town is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with special presents and programs for everyone. A new Buckeye Lake webcam will be activated this Fall and a 40 Mile Hiking Challenge starts in November. The Town has recently been awarded the National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Certification.
Should you have any questions, or need more information, please contact Robert Pudney at 828.387.4236.
Original source can be found here.
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