New Four Wheel Drive Ambulance Acquired by Andover EMS

Anticipated date of service mid-April

March 19, 2021 • Saved under Committees
By Andrew Perkins
A new four-wheel drive ambulance, pictured on the left, has been purchased by the Andover Emergency Management Services, and will be placed into service around mid-April. This unit will replace the current one, shown on the right, which will be put up for auction. Photo: Andrew Perkins

Andover EMS has purchased a new ambulance. Our current ambulance has served Andover well for eighteen years, but age and many hard miles have taken its toll. The 2003 Ford E350 Road Rescue has several mechanical issues, and rust is lifting the paint in the wheel wells. Our team is concerned about the reliability of this truck to continue to be used for an ambulance.

The new ambulance was purchased from a capital reserve account set up to replace the ambulance. Thanks to many hours of searching and very clever purchasing, the team was able to buy a 2019 Ford F350 4X4 Ambulance for $160,000, have it lettered, and have new radios installed . A new power lift stretcher was also purchased. The ambulance was factory built, not a custom unit, saving many dollars. The project was completed under the $180,767 that was budgeted for a new complete ambulance.

The new ambulance is four wheel drive giving our EMTs better access to patients during bad weather. The unit came with a great warranty should we have an issue. We plan a fifteen-year life cycle for this unit.

With our membership being low, we have a contract with the City of Franklin to transport patients to the hospital. There are times Franklin is unavailable to respond. Having our own ambulance allows Andover EMS to transport patients to the hospital as a backup. We are actively looking to gain more EMS providers. Anyone in town who wishes to join is urged to contact us through the town office. They will forward the information to the EMS team. Also, the EMS meetings are currently held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 PM at the Main Street Fire Station next to the Town Hall. The more members in the department the greater the town is protected. We are all volunteers and all have busy lives. More members ensure a response.

The new ambulance was delivered on March 10. It will be placed in service after the radios are installed, the inspection by the State Bureau of EMS is completed, and equipment is transferred from the current ambulance.  Hopefully it will be in service Mid-April. The old ambulance will then be put up for auction. Anyone can stop in to look at the new ambulance or inquire more about us. We thank the people of Andover for supporting Andover EMS. This new machine will be a strong addition to our Emergency Services capability.