MedEvent911, a leading provider of medical standby services, has added hydraulic extrication equipment – commonly known as "jaws of life" – to its ambulances. The company is the first in the industry to offer this state-of-the-art rescue tool on ambulances. The vehicles will be dispatched to wildfire incidents across the western United States.
Two MedEvent911 ambulances will be fitted with Genesis Brand Combi-Tools. The tools feature both a cutter and a spreader, offering maximum versatility in rescue situations. One ambulance (a 1996 F360 Type I 4x4) will be stragetically located between Arizona and Montana so that it can quickly respond to wildfire requests. The other, a 2003 E350 Type III 4x4, with its short wheel base makes this ambulance ideal for mountain conditions, will be based in Arizona.
"Our primary focus is the safety and well being of the firefighters who are risking their lives to protect our National Forests, as well as wildlife interface areas where structures meet wildland," said Dee McCluskey, Vice President/Director of Operations of MedEvent911. "Expanding our capabilities allows us to better serve these brave firefighters when they need it most."
In the past year, MedEvent911 has provided medical staffing for the Thompson Ridge Fire in New Mexico, the Mustang Complex Fire in Salmon, Idaho, the Holloway Fire in Denio, Nevada, and other wildland fires. The company's Advanced Life Support equipped paramedics have protected hundreds firefighters working at these various incidents. Our ambulance equipped with the "jaws of life" most recently dispatched to the Doce Fire in Prescott, AZ.
"These fires are so remote, it isn't practical to call in resources from the big cities," said McCluskey. "You need the resource to be on the ground as soon as possible in order to save lives. Adding hydraulic extraction equipment to our ambulances will allow us to quickly and efficiently respond to even the most serious of incidents."
The MedEvent911 team has extensive experience and training in urban and rural pre-hospital incidents and provides emergency medical support in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Idaho and Utah. Organizations that have turned to MedEvent911 for emergency response services in the past include the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Grand Canyon University Arena, City of Phoenix, Arizona Senior Olympics, Irish Cultural Center, Milwaukee Brewers, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Tough Mudder, Ragnar, and Warrior Dash to name a few.