Monday, December 4, 2023–9:25 a.m.
-News Release-
On November 30, AdventHealth Redmond EMS donated a decommissioned ambulance to the Polk County College and Career Academy.
This valuable contribution will function as a practical, hands-on training tool for students enrolled in the
high school’s Emergency Medical Response (EMR) program. Discussions regarding this donation have
been ongoing for over a year, involving collaboration between EMS partners at AdventHealth Redmond
and EMR program instructors.
EMR instructor Chuck Thaxton said, “This ambulance provides us with the opportunity to offer students
a more realistic experience in working on an actual vehicle rather than in a lab setting.”
Marty Robinson, Director of AdventHealth Redmond EMS, was motivated to support the training of
future EMS professionals, many of whom will eventually serve in Polk County. Robinson said, “When the
decision was made to decommission this ambulance due to its unsuitability for emergency response, we
recognized its potential as an excellent instructional vehicle.”
The presentation of the vehicle was also facilitated by program alumni Elia Lucas, Paton Goodson and
Leah Phanmanee. Lucas, a paramedic with AdventHealth Redmond stationed in Polk County, discovered
her passion for EMS while attending Thaxton’s class. Having graduated in 2020, Lucas has been an
integral part of the AdventHealth Redmond team since. Her foundational knowledge and experience in
Thaxton’s class gave her the confidence and foundational knowledge to deliver life-saving work on a
daily basis.
