KCEAA Adds ALS ATV to Fleet
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Posted: Friday, October 2, 2009 9:31 AM
Reprinted from the January 2009 KCEAA eMagazine:
The Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance
Authority has purchased an ASAP all-terrain ambulance. Monies for
this unit came from the Kanawha County Commission and the Safety
Levy.
"This is a phenomenal milestone and has been a long time ambition for KCEAA to have this remarkable vehicle," reported Joe Lynch, Executive Director. "The Alternative Support Apparatus (ASAP) unit will serve as an addition to the ambulance fleet and can be used off road as well as in urban setting for large events where a full size ambulance may not be practical. The fully enclosed climate control patient compartment will have the same advanced life support capabilities as one of the KCEAA regular ambulances."
According to Mike Jarrett, Public Information Officer for Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority, "Anything that can be done in the back of an ambulance can be done in the back of this ATV. One of the greatest advantages of this unit is the stretcher is the same as an ambulance - a great element as the patient can be transferred to a receiving ambulance with out being lifted from a stokes basket or field cot to a stretcher. But before the unit will be put in service, specialized training will be conducted and standard operating procedures will be put in place. We look for this unit to be in service in about a month."
KCEAA felt this purchase was especially important because of hunting and ATV accidents that generally happen in remote locations. In the past, KCEAA often had to put a medic in the back of a pick-up truck to get to accident victims.
According to Jarrett, medics would grab whatever drugs or equipment they thought they may need and hope they had everything necessary. No more. The ASAP ambulance is fully stocked.
But this mini-ambulance is needed for more than just hunting and ATV accidents. It will be used year round in remote or restricted areas such as parks and forests. And it will also be used in tight urban settings or crowded events like the Kanawha County Fair and FestivAll where it is hard to maneuver a full-sized ambulance.
KCEAA is always looking for better ways to serve the emergency medical needs of the people of the Kanawha Valley and is pleased to include the ATV mini-ambulance in our service fleet.
Alternative Support Apparatus produces the ASAP, or Alternative Support APparatus.