The newest addition to the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department's fleet is set to hit the streets in a matter of weeks.
Fire department officials hope that a new Medic 356 will be in service July 1.
The ambulance — a 2015 Dodge Ram 5500 — replaces a 2007 GMC medium-duty truck that went out of service in May; it had about 101,000 miles on it.
The fire department looks into replacing ambulances every eight to 10 years, according to Capt. Norm Simpkins Jr. This is the first time the fire department has purchased a new ambulance since 2011, when a Medic 355 was added, he said.
The new safety features and functions that the new vehicle provides impressed Simpkins.
"It's good not only for the citizens that we serve but for our members who ride the piece of apparatus," he said.
Last year, the prior Medic 356 was starting to show signs of its age, said Matt Urick, a paramedic and firefighter for the department. Wear and tear was starting to show, and maintenance costs were adding up.
In July, the fire department announced the formation of a committee to find a replacement. Urick was tasked with leading it.
"We definitely tried to buy the best ambulance that we (could,)" he said. "We tried to put as much research into it as we (could.)"
As the committee received input and looked for the best fit, it came across the Dodge Ram, which it bought in Elkridge.
"It's almost like it was specifically designed for us," Urick said. "It was very lucky for us that we were able to have that come across our lap and be able to purchase it, at a very reasonable cost, to the benefit of our community who fund us."
The vehicle cost about $267,000, Simpkins said. As long as the department keeps the vehicle on the streets, about 75 percent of the cost will be funded by the county.
The rest — a down payment of about $60,000 — was funded by the community via donations, fundraisers and events.
Last year, the fire department's two medic units responded to 2,730 calls. As of April 17, the medics have responded to 895 calls in 2016. Each month, the department rotates which of its two medic vehicles is primarily used.
Safety first
Urick's top priority as chair of the committee was to obtain an ambulance with the most safety features.
Among the highlights includes an automated stretcher, which reduces the amount of lifting that emergency responders must do by about 90 percent, he said.
With the push of a button, the stretcher comes out of the vehicle's rear compartment in a matter of seconds. Emergency responders put the stretcher on a track mounted to the vehicle's frame; the stretcher then loads the victim securely into the ambulance. The stretcher can hold up to 700 pounds, Urick said.
The feature, which costs about $40,000, is becoming more prevalent in ambulances, Urick said. Simpkins said about 25 units in the county have it.
"An ambulance can roll entirely over and if the patient's properly restrained to the stretcher, they're not going anywhere," Urick said.
The vehicle is also the first medic unit in the fleet that has four-wheel drive, which will allow for better transportation during snowstorms. A liquid spring suspension will allow for a smoother ride for patients, Urick said.
"A lot of them have bad backs or necks," Urick said. "The easier the ride, the more safe they are."
An occupant restraint system — essentially a set of air bags that deploy in the rear compartment in the event of the ambulance rolling over — is also part of the new vehicle. Arbutus responders learned of a nearby ambulance that hit a patch of ice and rolled over. While they didn't have a patient with them, everyone walked away with, at worst, minor injuries, Urick said.
"The back of an ambulance is not the safest place. You're always worried when you hear that an ambulance rolled over," he said. "Theirs had the system. I think that proves that occupant restraint system is very beneficial."
Urick has been grateful for the community support that helped fund the vehicle and is eager to get it on the road. The technologies and safety measures in the new unit will result in an improvement of service for those who need it and use it, Urick said.
"A lot of (it) makes us safer but it also makes it better able to do our jobs," he said. "We're always happy just to have a brand-new unit to play with."
Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department 2015 Medic Unit responses
Catonsville — 824 responses — 2,696.06 hours
Halethorpe — 232 responses — 917.61 hours
Westview — 222 responses — 850.13 hours
Arbutus — 923 responses — 2,909.27 hours
Violetville — 94 responses — 308.34 hours
Lansdowne — 140 responses — 676.06 hours
English Consul — 84 responses — 1,261.23 hours
Other areas — 211 responses — 770.47 hours
TOTAL: 2,730 responses — 10,389.17 hours
Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department 2016 EMS Responses through 4/17/16
Catonsville — 305
Halethorpe — 88
Westview — 53
Violetville — 21
Arbutus — 266
Lansdowne — 48
English Consul — 84
Others — 30
TOTAL: 895
SOURCE: Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department