By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

Longtime friends and supporters of Medic 94 and various local officials joyfully celebrated the ribbon-cutting event for the emergency response service’s new building on Saturday, May 17.

Medic 94, officially called Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services, is the on-wheels provider of advanced first aid for victims of serious accidents and sudden illnesses. It is operated by paramedics.

They arrive fast and give skilled treatment and care to the victims before those individuals depart from the scene by ambulance. In many cases, Medic 94 paramedics even accompany the victims inside their transport to the hospitals, providing care continuously through the ride.  

Recently, Medic 94 also earned certification for carrying blood to calls and administering it as well, if it is needed by the victim.

Historically, Medic 94, including its vehicles and paramedics, was housed in a series of rooms and offices in the former Jennersville Hospital facility.

Medic 94 CEO Bob Hotchkiss said he often refers to the former state of affairs as “living in their parents’ cellar for 41 years.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the Jennersville Hospital closed, it became apparent that Medic 94’s residency was in jeopardy and a new home had to be found. Medic 94 and Penn Township developed a plan that included designs for the creation of a facility called Southern Chester County Emergency Operations Center, which would be a home for Medic 94 and expand the building services to AGREM Emergency Management and access to the public.

In that offering for public use, the building became the center for dealing with all local emergency operations and a greater qualifier for state and county funding.

Led by the efforts of the Penn Township Supervisors, the project received a $1.03 million grant to start from the Chester County Commissioners, and the effort was begun.

And, just two years from the groundbreaking, the ribbon cutting for this $2.5 million building was celebrated on May 17, although the staff moved over informally last November.

As he stood to behold the building he was about to call to order with prayer, board member and minister Jim Mundell praised some of the new and improved features the building would have over the former site. These features include modern technology, a room for expanded communications, bunks for sleeping over and a room available for public meetings.

At the ceremony, Penn Township Board of Supervisors chairman Victor Mantegna, State Rep. John Lawrence, Avon Grove Emergency Coordinator Chuck Freese, and Hotchkiss all sat in front of the new building and a freshly polished Medic 94 vehicle in a four-seat row. They addressed the assembled crowd in turn.

Mantegna, whose township board and manager worked hard to guide the project and obtain the funding, called it “a significant day.”

He said the board made it a priority to work with AGREM and Medic 94 to establish a facility with the latest technology and communications systems.

Freese said that since 1988 he has always believed that the emergency response facility must be furnished with the best equipment and paramedics “trained in their craft.”

Lawrence said that development of any new facility must be made with vision, resources and leadership.

“They are qualities rare in the government,” he said.

In conclusion, Lawrence said no project will succeed, even if it has the vision and resources, without good leadership. In the case of this building and Medic 94, he said the leadership by Hotchkiss is excellent.

Hotchkiss informed the audience that Curtis Mason, the retired former chairman of the Penn Township Board came up with the concept, while the Penn board and manager Karen Versuk worked hard to put the details and funding in place.

Hotchkiss said he calls the building “a gift from Penn Township.”

He thanked his staff as well and said, “You are the best.”

Visitors at the ribbon-cutting were invited to tour the new building and receive refreshments for the rest of the morning, which incidentally started with rain but cleared in time for the celebration.

The building sits on land adjacent to Jenners Pond Road at 863 West Baltimore Pike in Penn Township, and its meeting room serves as a resource for public use as well as the Medic 94 staff.

This $2.5 million building benefitted from widespread gifts and grants as well as the advocacy by State Rep. John Lawrence and the township, Hotchkiss said.