BRADES – The new ambulance purchased by the Ministry of Health and Social Services has been commissioned.
Police Commissioner Steve Foster confirmed Monday that a Memorandum of Understanding has been completed with the MOH for the Montserrat Fire Service to continue to provide emergency response duties for the hospital.
Earlier this year, an Emergency Response Committee was set up by the Ministry of Health to conduct a full assessment of the new Toyota Landcruiser Ambulance after their was local criticism about the look of the ambulance. However, the custom built ambulance has undergone rigorous testing to assure its road worthiness and suitability for providing necessary support for emergencies and transporting patients to the Glendon Hospital.
The ambulance specifications are long and includes the following:
- Ferno ‘Pioneer’ collapsible trolley with side locking device sited
- 6-8” from saloon side wall
- Folding pole stretcher with straps, stored in under bench locker
- 2x spine boards with speed clips and head immobiliser, stored in under bench locker
- 2 piece scoop stretcher, stored in under bench locker
- Suction unit
- Laerdal electrical aspirator, hard wired into saloon
- Manual aspirator
- Nebuliser kit
- Automatic external defibrillator (IPad) with spare pads
- Trauma kit
- Burn kit
Since 2012, the fire service has been handling all emergency calls on island, including those for medical care.
In 2012 there were 412 emergency calls; 148 medical related; 24 trauma; and 32 transportation.
In 2013 there were a total of 303 emergency calls; 133 medical related; 50 trauma; 115 transportation; and 8 medivacs.
In 2014 the fire service handled 472 emergency calls; 160 were medical related; 27 were for trauma; 17 for transportation; and 7 medivacs.
Chief Fire Officer Andre West says 75% of their overall emergency calls are related to medical care.
