New ambulance for Timaru
A new ambulance complete with state-of-the-art technology will be driving the streets of Timaru from today.
The Generation 4 ambulance, funded by the Richard Pearse Tavern, The Grosvenor and Pub Charity, officially launched at the St John station yesterday with a dedication ceremony and blessing from Rev Alan Cummins.
‘‘The biggest thing is it’s got all the latest technology in it,’’ St John South Island regional trust Aoraki representative and Timaru area committee member Gordon Handy said.
‘‘It’s a slightly smaller vehicle, it’s easier for the response team to be closer to the patient when they are transporting and it’s also easier to get the vehicle around places because it’s slightly smaller than a conventional ambulance.’’
Equipment on board includes a resuscitation kit, suction unit, power-load stretcher, radio, mobile data terminal, first-response kit and consumables, stair-carry chair, scoop stretcher, traction splints, extraction device, child restraint strap and safety helmet.
St John spokesperson Gerard Campbell said it cost St John $215,000 to design, build, paint and equip a new ambulance and they are constantly being adapted to suit NZ conditions, increase efficiency and improve patient care.
‘‘Our new Generation 4 ambulances are a Sprinter 419 Mercedes MWB HR van, based on the new Mercedes VS30 chassisEuro 6 . . . The ambulance has a single stretcher and is equipped with a power-load stretcher,’’ he said.
‘‘It brings with it a completely 360-degree safety camera system and autonomous safety systems, including electronic stability programming, front and rear parking cameras and sensors, and a parallel parking guidance system, all of which work to keep both our people and our patients safer.’’