The ice may be gone for now, but when it returns the Sevier County Ambulance Authority will be ready.
Kevin McClure, EMT-IV with Sevier County Ambulance Authority, said his team was prepared to deal with snowy roads before adverse weather conditions were even in the forecast.
“We have one 4-wheel drive vehicle and another 4-wheel drive Chevrolet Suburban that we use when the roads are bad,” McClure said. “That’s in addition to the six full-time ambulances that we use every day.”
McClure said his team is trained to watch the weather forecasts and prepare for them as needed, so a snow day never takes them by surprise.
“We have special studded tires that we use on the back (wheels) of our six ambulances,” McClure said. “They are used for snow conditions only and we put them on ourselves.” When the outside of the ambulance is ready for Old Man Winter, the team prepares the inside of the ambulance next.
“We carry extra blankets and ‘hot packs,’ which are packages that you can squeeze and they heat up,” McClure said. “We can use those items if someone is suffering from hypothermia.”
McClure also said the heat in all the ambulances works well so patients can stay warm while they are being transported.
Even during snow conditions, car drivers should remember that the rule to ‘pull to the right and stop’ when an ambulance comes up behind you is still the correct thing to do. It can be tricky when roads are slick, but McClure said drivers should still move out of the way as much as possible.
“Just do the best you can,” McClure said.
When roads are really snowy in Sevier County, getting lost or stranded on a back road can be dangerous, and McClure advises people to carry blankets, a flashlight and water in their cars during the winter.
“Don’t put yourself in a situation to get stranded if you can help it,” McClure said. “It’s better to stay inside and stay warm when the roads are bad.”

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