By Derrick Perkins
The Union Leader
SALEM, N.H. — On the beach or in the water, Arlington Pond is a hot spot for fun-loving locals. Now, if the good times take a turn for the worse there’s a town vehicle that can be ridden to the rescue.
The Arlington Pond Protective Association has donated a four-wheel all-terrain John Deere utility vehicle to the fire department, giving local medical and rescue responders a quick ride to the scene of an emergency. Selectmen officially accepted the roughly $10,000 donation Monday, though the department has had the vehicle for several weeks now.
In the winter months snowmobilers zoom across the frozen pond, while off-road recreational vehicles roar along the beach in summer, said Howie Glynn, APPA president. A few years ago a snowmobile accident took a life and the association decided to do what it could to keep it from happening again, he said.
“The mission of our association is for the betterment of Arlington Pond and (the ATV) to us was a betterment to the pond,” Glynn said. “If there is an issue they can at least address it, though we hope they never have to use it.”
Association directors approached Fire Chief Kevin Breen with their planned donation back in late December. Breen happily accepted and believes the vehicle will come in handy, not only around Salem’s lakes and ponds, but in the town forest and during community events.
“When you look at the town forest you realize there are miles of trail out there and if a person needs medical treatment it takes time to find, treat and hand carry them out,” he said. “The golden hour, that time until you have the victim at a medical facility, is crucial. This gives us access capabilities.”
During brush fires, the vehicle could haul personnel and equipment to and from the scene, usually well away from the nearest road, said Breen.
It’s not a piece of equipment the department has had readily available in the past, Breen said. A former deputy chief made several failed attempts to secure a federal grant for something similar, he said.
When off-road emergencies have come up, firefighters have volunteered recreational vehicles, Breen said.
“I’ve seen our personnel utilize their own equipment, snowmobiles or boats,” he said. “Historically, whether it was a significant snow event or a situation with limited access, something this small might have been able to access the scene.”
Since taking possession, the department has rigged the vehicle with a medical transport unit to carry medical equipment or cart the injured. It’s still green, but will get a new coat of fire-engine red paint soon enough, said Breen.
All that’s left is to train staff to use it, though the fire chief doesn’t think it will take that much work.
It’s not the first donation APPA has made to the fire department, Glynn said. A few years ago the group purchased about $3,000 in water rescue equipment for the town’s firefighters. The nonprofit organization raises the money through charity gaming at Rockingham Park racetrack, he said.
Copyright 2010 Union Leader Corp.