Chief Sam Phillips told the fire district’s commissioners last Tuesday that the two new advanced life support (ALS) ambulances have made getting patients to the hospital quicker than ever and that he believes this has improved patient outcomes.  

The district now has three advanced life support ambulances, after the second new ambulance was delivered Feb. 28.

The ALS ambulances take care of people with severe problems such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, stroke and cardiac arrest.

Phillips said that transport times have dropped 14.8 percent and time spent on scene has gone down 9.4 percent.

Engine 3, a 2019 custom-built Pierce Saber, will be blessed at the event by the Rev. James Nash of St. Faustina Parish in Nanticoke.

 

The City of Nanticoke purchased the new engine with funds from a DCED grant and state grant money allocated to the volunteer hose companies that support the city’s full-time department.  

This new engine is equipped with a 500 gallon water tank and can deliver 1500 gallons per minute with its pump. It was designed with a short wheel base and an overall length of 28 feet, four inches to navigate through tight streets and alleys in the city. The truck has a four-person cab and carries a set of eDraulic rescue tools for motor vehicle accidents. It is also licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a quick response vehicle.

The truck was purchased through the Houston-Galveston Area Council Cooperative Purchasing Program, a government-to-government procurement system that City Council voted to participate in last year. The co-op offers reduced pricing for government entities.  

The Fire Department has seven engines, two ladder trucks and one rescue vehicle in operation. However, several of the rigs have mechanical and operational issues, including leaky hoses and pumps, bald tires and worn brakes, which local officials have expressed concern over.