LIHUE — With the arrival of 2014, American Medical Response celebrated its new year with two new ambulances that arrived Friday. “These will replace Medic 20 and 21 ambulances at the Lihue station,” said Tito Villanueva, the AMR Kauai supervisor.
LIHUE — With the arrival of 2014, American Medical Response celebrated its new year with two new ambulances that arrived Friday.
“These will replace Medic 20 and 21 ambulances at the Lihue station,” said Tito Villanueva, the AMR Kauai supervisor. “Medic 20 and 21 are good units, but have reached the state’s limit on service at seven years, or 120,000 miles. They’re still real good units, they just aged out.”
The two new units are 2013 Ford Econoline ambulances which have been fitted with the latest in medical response features, including a high visibility treatment on its rear doors, a Light Emitting Diode emergency light system and an interior cab lighting.
“The back is like on fire,” said AMR paramedic Steve Arellanes. “But it’s good for responding to accidents on the highway so people can see us.”
Cody Bonilla, an AMR paramedic, said it’s good to have the LED lights on the inside as well.
“The former Halogen lamps used to burn out a lot,” Bonilla said. “These LED lights should last a lot longer.”
Joining the list of features are accommodations for a motorized gurney which Villanueva said are en route to complement the new vehicles.
“These are battery-operated and allow the operators to be able to raise, lower and do other operations to ease medical response issues,” Villanueva said. “It makes our responders’ work easier, and safer. They’re really making sure our guys are safe.”
Another more obvious feature is the inclusion of buckles and safety belts for the medical technicians while transporting patients.
“These were not available on the older ambulances,” Villanueva said. “Now, our guys can be safe while transporting patients.”
AMR provides medical response capabilities for the island of Kauai through a state contract, Villanueva said.
AMR stations are located in Hanalei, Kapaa, Lihue, Koloa, and on the Westside.
The new ambulances, once paperwork is completed and communications gear is installed, will be placed into service.
“AMR, through the state contract, also provides air ambulance service with three airplanes,” Villanueva said. “Planes are situated on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. On Kauai, we have Hawaii Life Flight so we don’t have a plane, yet.”
AMR, through its state contract, provides service on all the major Hawaiian Islands, having stations on Lanai and Molokai because it is under the County of Maui, Villanueva said.
