Penn Township EMS responders benefit from Eagle Scout project

James Sullenberger of North Huntingdon didn’t know his Eagle Scout project would impact more than 2,000 lives annually.

But a simple project like building new shelves in the Penn Township Ambulance Association’s locker room, along with a jacket and helmet rack and dressing bench in the ambulance bay is helping speed up response times and making a more organized process when responding to calls.

“We were just kind of looking for a place,” the Norwin High School senior said. “It was a good cause, so that helped solidify our decision.”

Edgar Grant, director of the ambulance association, said the new storage spots are used to hold ballistic body armor, turnout jackets and pants and rescue helmets, and will help prolong the life of the pieces.

Grant said ballistic body armor, like bullet-proof vests, have to remain flat with nothing laying on top. Now, 10 shelves provide a space for the armor, making it easy for multiple first responders to retrieve what pieces they need.

“He allowed our equipment to be positioned so we can make sure our equipment is always on the way to the bay,” Grant said. “We work in an environment in which we could be really exposed. This empowers our staff and gives them that assurance that they’re going to be able to go home at the end of their duty.”

For Sullenberger, planning and assembling the shelves and bench had a small learning curve. After learning about the possibility of the project from his grandmother, Kathy Bufano, Sullenberger reached out to Grant, who was happy to have him on the job.

With the help of his dad, Tom Sullenberger, and the rest of his Boy Scouts Troop 284 out of the First Presbyterian Church in Irwin, plans were designed and the project was completed within a few months.

“Without hesitation that’s what he wanted to do,” Sullenberger’s mom, Danielle, said.

While the now 18-year-old doesn’t plan on pursuing a career as a first responder, he is slated to attend West Virginia University to study interactive design for media.

“So pretty different from building a bench,” James Sullenberger said.