Ambulances continue to grow larger, more costly

A new ambulance arrived in Superior this week. It represents years of hard work, fund raising, grant writing, cooperation, collaboration and dreaming by City of Superior personnel and members of the emergency squad.

"It is a labor of love," Carrie Lemke, squad captain said as she admiringly inspected the vehicle.

The four-wheeled drive, 2023 Ford F550 diesel Traumahawk is an American Response Vehicle priced at more than $333,000. A patient cot added $56,000, a stair chair $15,000 and supplies another $15,000, for a total cost of approximately $419,000.

Supplies include things like a back board, head board, CPR board, flashlights, a vacuum splint, a vacuum mattress and a pediatric board.

"Anything medical is really expensive," Lemke said.

The ambulance arrived last Wednesday and will be kept in the gas service building on South Central until it is ready for service.

Lemke expects it to be ready by mid-May. Radios are being installed this week. It has yet to be stocked and staff trained.

It is larger than the ambulances in current use, both longer and taller. The added space allows for EMTs to more easily move around the patient. However, it takes up more space in the Superior Public Safety Building, which is at capacity.

Features include a power load system - meaning the cot is mechanically lifted into the ambulance.

"That goes a long way in protecting our backs," Lemke said.

The stair chair is electric and will move patients up or down stairs.

It has both interior and exterior lighting features. For example, the interior of the ambulance can be illuminated with red lights, or lights just along the floor or in the cabinet area. This feature is designed to help people with migraines or who are light sensitive. Exterior lights include more warning lights, a skirt light and ground lights so it is easier to see around the unit.

Equipment includes a HEPA filter and a mechanism to sterilize the interior air.

"That will further protect patients in addition to the normal cleaning we do," Lemke said.

The ambulance features several drive modes: sport, normal and comfort. The sport drive mode is designed for terrain which would cause the ambulance to sway, while the comfort drive mode introduces air springs so the ambulance does not bounce.

The body of the ambulance can be lowered for easier access, but it can also be raised for six additional inches of clearance which will allow it to travel over rougher terrain like a pastures or through a ditch.

The unit replaces a 1991 Ford which has been used for standby. "It has reached the end of its useful life for Superior," Lemke said. "It is a tight fit for today's needs and can be hard to start."

The City of Superior's 2003 model will soon become the backup unit.

"It will be the primary unit used to respond to fires," Lemke said. "We don't want our primary ambulance to smell like smoke."

It will continue to be used anytime two ambulances are needed.

"Sometimes we get two calls at the same time and at times two ambulances are called to an accident scene,"

Lemke said.

Securing the ambulance has been a multi-year project. "Both the EMTs and fire department survive on donations," Lemke said. "Yes, there is money provided by city taxes, but we never want to deplete our city funds.

"If someone wants to donate to a specific department, it needs to be designated on their check," she continued.

"Andrew Brittenham (Superior city administrator) has been of much help," Lemke said. "He did the leg work. He filed the paper work. He did the follow up. In general, he helped us stay on top of things. He made contact with the state, worked us through the ARPA grant. He is the one who helped us review eight bids and select the best one to meet our needs, then presented it to the city council."

It has been a long process. Work started in 2022 to secure the ambulance that was delivered this month. Prior to that, personnel tried to secure a grant that was not funded.