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Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Wins Big With Rural/Metro Ambulance

SAN DIEGO, California (Sept. 23, 2011) – Rural/Metro San Diego came in as the clear favorite this season "Where the Surf Meets the Turf" at the famed Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) in San Diego.  While Rural/Metro has contracted with DMTC for many years as its medical stand-by provider, this is the first year that the club expanded Rural/Metro's role to the infamous turf race track.

(Pictured (L-R): EMT JJ Buie, Paramedic Thomas Stillman, Paramedic Tawny Swift and EMT John Shipley)

"Having advanced life support capabilities on the track with the horses and jockeys was a first for DMTC," said Rural/Metro San Diego Special Events Manager John Reisdorfer. "They are on the leading edge of the trend in horse racing in Southern California, and we are honored they chose Rural/Metro to work with."

Rural/Metro was at the race track throughout the racing season from mid-July through the first week of September, including one ALS ambulance for workouts 7 days a week, and two ALS ambulances on race days, Wednesday through Sunday.

"The service we received was great," said DMTC Director of Risk Management Kim Jacobson. "We made a great transition to Advanced Life Support services, and the Rural/Metro crews adapted and did a wonderful job for us."

Reisdorfer was quick to highlight a key group of Rural/Metro field personnel as the reason for the season's success at DMTC:  Overall project manager EMT John Shipley, Assistant Project Manager Paramedic Tawny Swift, and Primary Operational Crew EMT JJ Buie and Paramedic Thomas Stillman.   "These four individuals who worked at DMTC throughout the season are a shining example of how success can be achieved when you empower your employees," said Reisdorfer.

Rural/Metro San Diego was responsible not only for the safety of the jockeys at the track, but also the thousands of race fans five days a week, which at times exceeded 40,000 people.

"We are thrilled that DMTC recognized Rural/Metro's exceptional performance throughout the racing season," said Reisdorfer. "Their board of directors was very pleased with the upgrade to ALS service and wants to make it a permanent staple in their operations."

Rural/Metro San Diego serves the market with 80 ambulances, more than 550 employees and responds to more than 100,000 calls per year. Rural/Metro is San Diego County's largest ambulance provider, and has served San Diego since 1997.

This R/M Online was provided by Reema Makani, Public Information Officer for Rural/Metro San Diego.