South Australian Ambulance Service

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = SA Ambulance Service

logo_width = 100 px
logo_caption =
formed =
preceding1 =
dissolved =
superseding =
jurisdiction = Government of South Australia
employees = 2,500+
budget =
chief1_name = Mr Ray Creen
chief1_position = Chief Executive
parent_agency =
child1_agency =
website = [http://www.saambulance.com.au/ www.saambulance.com.au]
footnotes =

The SA Ambulance Service is a Government Department under SA Health, that is the sole provider of emergency ambulance transport, clinical care and patient transport services to over 1.5 million people, distributed across an area of 1,043,514 square kilometres in South Australia, Australia.

The service employs approximately 1100 people, and utilizes 1600 volunteers, working out of 105 locations, operating 323 ambulance vehicles to provide emergency, non-emergency, aeromedical, rescue and retrieval services across the entire state.

Ambulance types

SAAS is known to operate a variety of emergency and non emergency vehicles across the state, which reportedly travel in excess of 4 million kilometres each year:

* Emergency AmbulancesMercedes Sprinter Vans operate around metropolitan areas whereas country areas use a variety of Ford F250's, Ford F350's and Mercedes Sprinter Vans. All vehicles have distinctive livery, high visibility LED lightbar and warning lights and sirens.

* Ambulance Transport ServiceFord Transit vans are used by the Ambulance Transport Service. These vehicles do not carry the same equipment as standard emergency ambulances.

* Single Vehicle Response Units & Operational Command Vehicles SAAS use a mix of Holden Commodore and Ford Territory AWD vehicles for rapid response of a single Intensive Care Paramedic or Ambulance Supervisor. Special Operations Teams use a variety of 4WD type vehicles as do Shift Managers and Commanders. SAAS use a Toyota Bus (CV1) and a VW Kombie van (CV2) as a command vehicles for major incidents. Bicycle paramedic response units are also used to respond to incidents at major events.

* AirwingSAAS are the controlling authority for 3 Adelaide Bank State Rescue Helicopters, for the use of roadside trauma response, medical retrievals, training exercises and SAPOL and CFS operations. The Royal Flying Doctor Service operate a number of Pilatus PC12 aircraft performing inter-hospital transfers from regional area and first response ambulance service in remote areas.

pecial Operations Team

Special Operations Team (SOT) rescue paramedics are trained in high-risk rescue procedures. They work closely with other emergency services and the South Australian Police STAR Division.

Communications

The SAAS State Communications Centre is based in Adelaide, who primarily answer Emergency triple-zero calls, and coordinate the States Ambulance resources. Communications also coordinates the dispatch of the Adelaide Bank State Rescue Helicopter Service. Communications provide hospitals with information on clients of the MedicAlert foundation, coordinate calls from the Divers' Emergency Service Network and SA Trauma Service.

ee also

*Ambulance
*Paramedic
*000 Emergency

External links

* [http://www.saambulance.com.au Official Website]