MILLVILLE, Del. - Emergency services are getting an upgrade in Millville. The EMS staff added a fourth ambulance to its fleet, which they began using last November. They say they’ve had a 10 to 15 percent increase in calls which prompted a purchase for a new vehicle.
In the summertime, Millville is running three ambulances all day, which first responders say due to an influx of tourists.
"The fourth ambulance is two parts, it's a back up to the other three, in case there is mechanical issues ... so having a fourth gives us the opportunity to handle additional calls if there's volunteers available to sign up and be on shift,” said John Watson, EMS Chief for the Millville Volunteer Fire Company.
The vehicle was purchased for just under $300,000, but then "we equipped it with new power load stretcher, radios, computers, and the equipment that we need,” said Watson.
The total price for the ambulance came out to $400,000.
"We got funding from the town of Millville and Ocean View, they were both gracious to assist us in purchasing this unit. Plus the rest of it is deemed off of donations we get through our ambulance fund drive, which is used for EMS operations only,” said Watson.
In 2020, Millville EMS says it received 2,700 calls.
The fourth ambulance has new features, like a powerload stretcher, which makes it easier to lift patients in and out of the truck.
Beebe Healthcare's new South Coastal Campus keeps patients and ambulance staff close to home, instead of ambulance transports having to head to Lewes, Berlin, or Salisbury for hospital care.
"It gives us a quicker response time. People who are short of breath, we get there faster than if we had to wait for another ambulance from a fire department if we're busy, so it gives us the ability to reduce our response times,” said Watson.
Even though a public dedication has been canceled because of COVID-19, their public service continues, and people can donate to their efforts by clicking here.