In 1978 a few brave individuals started the great ambulance service that has been proudly serving the Knox Area for 27 years.  Prior to 1978 the local mortuary operated the "ambulance" service out of the funeral home. Prior to our current station, the ambulance was housed at one of our founding member's home garage. Now the Knox Ambulance Company is housed at 342 Main Street, in the borough of Knox, Clarion County, PA.

      Until 1996, the Knox Ambulance Company was staffed strictly by volunteers with the exception of an 8-4 EMT to cover daytime shift while volunteers were working their jobs, and a dedicated salaried paramedic that crewed 24/7.  Due to the resignation of the 24/7 Paramedic, the ambulance company had to hire paramedics.  The company now employs four full-time and seven part-time paramedics.  The company also employs three part-time EMTs.  The company still has a few dedicated volunteers left on its roster. 

      Dr. Michael Hoh, an emergency room physician at Clarion Hospital, has been the medical command physician for four years. He has supported the Knox Ambulance Co. and has donated his yearly wage to the company for the purchase of equipment.

    The Knox Area Volunteer Ambulance Company covers an area of 72 square miles with the population of 4900.  Knox Ambulance covers all of Ashland, Beaver, and Salem Townships, and the borough of Knox.  We also cover portions of Elk Township, Clarion County and Richland Townships Clarion and Venango Counties.  We cover Interstate 80 from the 49 to the 57 milemarkers east and west bound.  We assist Shippenville-Elk Volunteer Ambulance Company, Emlenton Area Ambulance Service, Community Ambulance Service, and Clarion Hospital EMS and these companies assist us. We are dispatched via Clarion County 911 by tone/voice alert.

 

Knox Volunteer Fire Company is on automatic dispatch for motor vehicle accidents and other rescue operations.

To be a volunteer, it is hard for anyone to find the time to take the training necessary to withhold certifications.  Below you will find a break down of the amount of hours needed to initially become medically trained and then the hours required to keep your certification once acquired.  Most EMS practitioners hold other jobs whether they are career or volunteer. ALL EMS practitioners are PROFESSIONAL whether they are career or volunteer.  Both personnel take the same training.  ALL certified EMS practitioners are licensed through the PA Dept. of Health.

 

	Initial Training	Yearly requirements
Paramedic	2 years	18 Continuing Educ. hours yearly
EMT	Approx. 120 hours	24 Con Ed hours every 3 years
1st Responder	Approx. 60 hours	16 Con Ed hours every 3 years
Driver	8-16 hours driving class, plus CPR training	Yearly CPR recert.

    You say 24 hours every 3 years isn't very much time.  Consider these few barriers:

•Your other full time job
•Your children's' Little League Games, plays, school functions, etc.
•Other organizations that you may belong to: Local Fire Dept., Lions Club, church choir, etc.
•Most of the Con Ed. classes are only worth 2-3 credits per class.
These only name a few.

   If you would like to volunteer with Knox Ambulance, we reimburse you for your training once a signed waiver time is completed. 
Please stop in and pay us a visit.