SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Mohawk Ambulance Service recently made a significant investment to add a new ambulance to their fleet and purchased new, upgraded LIFEPAK 15 monitors/defibrillators to upgrade their existing equipment. Including these new additions, Mohawk now employs more than 40 emergency and response vehicles out of its six service stations across the Capital Region.
The new Sprinter ambulance has a diesel engine with spacious interiors, providing more interior height and walk space, allowing better maneuverability for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics to treat patients. Additional features include floor-to-ceiling and overhead cabinets for easier access to equipment and supplies, impact safety attendant seats and a smaller road footprint for better navigation down narrow streets.
Mohawk Ambulance Service annually plans to buy five new ambulances to replace vehicles in the fleet, 
which is currently comprised of 34 ambulances. An ambulance’s typical lifespan is about five years and is retired when it has logged more than 250,000 miles. The cost of a new ambulance, fully equipped to Mohawk Ambulance’s high standards with radio, GPS technology and patient life-saving equipment, is approximately $180,000.
More than $400,000 was also invested in the purchase of 11 LIFEPAK 15 monitors/defibrillators. The new technology and advanced features in this model allow paramedics and EMTs to better assess and treat patients. These particular units were chosen for their ability to:
- Monitor and transmit vital patient data through a web-based system to physicians at hospitals throughout the region to better prepare for a patient’s arrival.
- Differentiate between oxygen and carbon monoxide in a patient’s blood, enabling earlier detection of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is released as a result of combustion, such as a fire or faulty heating system, which people can have in their blood without realizing it and can be fatal if not detected early enough.
- Monitor chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and determine the efficiency of the compressions. Studies have shown that effective chest compressions and early defibrillation during cardiac arrests are the two most beneficial interventions that can be provided and result in the best outcomes. This feature allows the EMT to immediately adjust treatment to increase effectiveness.
“The technology and equipment used to save lives changes frequently and we must constantly invest in our company’s fleet and the equipment our professionals use to provide the highest quality of emergency medical care to the patients we serve,†said James P. McPartlon, III, president, Mohawk Ambulance Service. “We are committed to saving lives and we will dedicate the resources necessary to provide the highest quality care and treatment to those who need and utilize our services.â€
About Mohawk Ambulance Service:
Founded in 1964, Mohawk Ambulance Service is the largest, privately-owned ambulance service in upstate New York. Mohawk Ambulance Service provides Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support services to the counties of Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga. Mohawk Ambulance Service employs more than 250 New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians, Critical Care Technicians and Paramedics ready to provide the highest quality of emergency medical care. For more information, please visit https://mohawkambulanceservice.com/.
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