South Australian Ambulance Service
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| SA Ambulance Service | |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Government of South Australia |
| Employees | 2,500+ |
| Agency Executive | Mr Chris Lemmer, Chief Executive |
| Website | |
| www.saambulance.com.au | |
SAAS is an independent organization that providies clinical care and health related transport services to over 1.5 million people in South Australia, 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.
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[edit] 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 Ambulances
Mercedes 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 Service
Ford 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 VW Kombie as a command vehicle for major incidents
- Airwing
SAAS operate several fixed wing aircraft, supported by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, and operate 3 rescuce helicopters, for the use of medical retrievals, training exercises and SAPOL and CFS operations
[edit] Special 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.
[edit] Communications
The SAAS State Communications Centre in based 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.
