PRMC AMBUS, Crew Deployed To West, Texas

The Palestine Regional Medical Center AMBUS Emtf-4 was one of four AMBUS mobilized for the aftermath of the explosion in West, Texas that occurred on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.

According to PRMC EMS Supervisor Mark Neel the PRMC AMBUS received their dispatch for the West disaster and was remarkably able to mobilize their crew of 10 and be on their way in an hour, meeting up with four other dispatched AMBUS in West. Neel reported that all four were able to make it on scene in just under five hours time. “While we have used the AMBUS to transport patients, this was the first time the PRMC AMBUS has been dispatched to a mass casualty disaster.” Neel added, “I think our team did a great job of pulling together and mobilizing so quickly.”

Neel relayed that once the four AMBUS had arrived on scene most of the casualties had been transported to area hospitals. While staging and awaiting an assignment, Neel noted that the mood among volunteers and emergency crew personnel was “very sober.” He stated, “The initial chaos of the event was starting to calm down and the emotions of the event were beginning to settle in.” Neel said that the AMBUS returned to Palestine on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

For those that are unaware, PRMC AMBUS Emtf-4 is a multi-patient transport unit that is being utilized in the Northeast Texas area that ranges from Texarkana to the Louisiana border, covering Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Lamar, Marion, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt and Woods counties and is available to FEMA for national deployment. It is one of eight assigned to the State of Texas. It is designed to serve as mass casualty transportation, treating up to 20 patients at a time. It can be used to care for the sick and injured on-site and transport emergency responders across a variety of incidents, which may threaten the health and safety of those in our region and across the State of Texas.

PRMC EMS is required to staff the AMBUS with up to six emergency medical personnel to meet the State deployment requirements. The recommended staffing includes an EMT driver, a Paramedic Crew Chief, two Paramedics and two Emergency Medical Technicians at a one to four patient/caregiver ratio.