Emergency response truck a life saver

A new major incident emergency response truck means Marlborough’s first responders are even better prepared in a crisis.

Marlborough’s first responders feel better prepared than ever with the delivery of their new $300,000 Major Incident Support Team (MIST) truck.

The move means the region now has a quick set up field hospital and emergency response kits in an all-in-one truck.

Hato Hone St John’s Tasman Operations Manager Murray Neal, and MIST team members Phil Grigg and Dave Parsons says the truck has everything on hand for a major incident.

“It’s a serious upgrade from the kit we had available beforehand and makes us feel more capable and secure in our emergency responses.

“MIST vehicles are consistent across the country, so first responders have everything they need for any major incident on hand,” says Murray.

“It allows for easy training and deployment wherever necessary being able to handle more people, lighting, tents and supplies in the field for whatever reason it may be needed.

MIST vehicles are deployed to complex missions where lots of people need to be treated such as the Christchurch earthquake.

But it will also be used as a home base for large events like the Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka.

They are standardised across the country, with the specialised Mercedes Benz Sprinter engine and chassis completed by Action Manufacturing in Hamilton.

“Hopefully we don’t have to use the MIST truck too often for major incidents, but we’re not going to let it sit and gather dust - our paramedics and response teams are glad to have it on hand making the region safer,” Murray says.

Phil Grigg and Dave Parsons act as an emergency response logistics team.

They say the MIST truck will make everyone’s’ mission roles more streamlined.

“The trucks are standardised so if response teams are needed anywhere across the country any responder knows where what they need is”, says Phil.

“In for example the Cyclone in Hawke’s Bay, we’re now able to transfer anywhere across the country and provide the same logistical support so responder’s missions of care are made as easy as possible.

The truck has five emergency grab bags to distribute instantly to clinical staff. With everything a patient may need, a full field hospital can be set up within 30 minutes.

The MIST vehicle is configured as a standard ambulance up front but plugged in to power every night to ensure everything is fully charged up – including a full set of walkie talkies.

“MIST vehicles are our one stop shop for any incidents or for any events with potential for incidents,” says Dave.

“It’s deployable anywhere it is needed, set up ready for long missions at a moment’s notice kept fully charged and ready to go.”

The truck can also operate for a long time off battery storage or generator power and act as a home base for long-term or rurally based missions, while also being deployable into other regions if necessary.

“It’s awesome to have here now and our practise makes perfect,” says Dave.

“The most urgent items responders need is the most accessible, and it’s great to know we’re always ready for a long time away from base if needed.

“It’s always great to get new shiny kit and know how everything works – our first chance to operate was the Marlborough Flyer training run which we took some valuable learnings from”, agrees Phil.

“It means our responses are safer for us in the setting up of field hospitals down to the little things of more lighting and deploying the 200kg inflatable tent in a safer manner for us.

“It’s faster for our clinical staff to react and more accessible to urgent situations across the country.”