VIDEO: On Thursday, WALB News 10 was given its first look at the Valdosta Fire Department’s (VFD) new mobile medic unit, which residents will be seeing cruising around.
A lot of the calls the department gets are medically related, making this addition crucial to VFD’s services.
The unit will help reach patients in medical emergencies, wherever they are, including on rough terrain or unreachable areas.
Robert Mercer, VFD special operations captain, explained that they’ve had the utility terrain vehicle (UTV) for a while, but the plan has always been to add this box to transport patients. Recently, with a Georgia Search and Rescue, or GSAR grant, VFD was able to make it happen.
“It will allow us to transport a patient from a remote location to waiting EMS services, or a situation where maybe an ambulance couldn’t reach them, or it’s just difficult terrain to cross,” said Mercer.