Velma, Okla. Shuts Down Volunteer Ambulance Service

Associated Press

VELMA, Oklahoma -- Velma's council is temporarily shutting down the tiny town's volunteer ambulance service because of staffing issues.

Mayor Sean Enloe tells the Lawton Constitution that the council took the action because there aren't enough personnel to staff the ambulance service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Enloe says the personnel shortage began after a fee of $1.25 an hour being paid to staff to be on call was dropped because of declining revenue.

State regulations require two people to be available for ambulance runs. Velma's ambulance service was down to two people on its staff and Enloe says when one of them had to have surgery, the town had to shut down the service.

He says the town needs between $3,000 and $5,000 a month to staff the service.