Priority Ambulance of East Tennessee donated 50 bag-valve-masks (BVMs) to the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office during a September 8 presentation at the local Priority Ambulance station. The community-focused donation will place lifesaving respiratory equipment in patrol vehicles, helping deputies begin critical care for patients and support CPR while an ambulance crew is on the way.
Members of the local Priority Ambulance team also provided hands-on instruction on the proper use of the BVMs. The training builds coordination between deputies and EMS crews and helps ensure patients receive safe, effective respiratory support during the first critical moments of an emergency.
“The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the efforts of Priority Ambulance to provide our office with bag-valve-masks,” said Cocke County Sheriff C.J. Ball. “These masks will be provided to each patrol vehicle to add to their first-aid bag. This equipment will help our officers respond more quickly when assisting with CPR and other lifesaving measures for the people we are called to serve each day. It gives us an added advantage in getting people the help they need in a timely manner.”
“Our patients are at the heart of everything we do and serving them well requires close teamwork with the fellow first responders who answer the call alongside us,” said Lindsay Ellison, Operations Manager for Priority Ambulance of East Tennessee. “By providing BVMs and hands-on training to Cocke County officers, we are helping strengthen the care available during those first critical minutes and reinforcing our shared commitment to the people and families of this community.”
As Cocke County’s local exclusive 9-1-1 emergency ambulance provider, Priority Ambulance of East Tennessee is committed to caring for its neighbors and working side by side with law enforcement, fire departments, dispatchers and other community partners. This donation reflects that longstanding commitment to patients and to the fellow first responders whose preparation, communication and teamwork help save lives across Cocke County every day.
