South Australian Ambulance Service
Encyclopedia
SA Ambulance Service is a Government agency under SA Health, that is the sole provider of emergency ambulance transport, clinical care and patient transport services to over 1.5 million people, distributed across an area of 1,043,514 square kilometres in South Australia
, Australia
.
The service employs approximately 1200 people, and utilizes 1500 volunteers, working out of 105 locations, operating 323 ambulance vehicles to provide emergency, non-emergency, aeromedical, rescue and retrieval services across the entire state.
All vehicles have distinctive livery, high visibility LED lightbar and warning lights and sirens. Recently introduced new design livery has improved visibility and safety.
.
and CFS
operations. The Royal Flying Doctor Service operate a number of Pilatus PC12 aircraft performing inter-hospital transfers from regional area and first response ambulance service in remote areas.
. SOT Paramedics also cycle through the new MedSTAR
retrieval service.
, Adelaide
, who primarily answer emergency triple-zero (000) calls using the MPDS dispatch system and coordinate SA Ambulance Service resources. The EOC also coordinates the dispatch of the Adelaide Bank State Rescue Helicopter Service. EOC call-takers also provide hospitals with information on clients of the MedicAlert foundation, coordinate calls from the Divers' Emergency Service Network
and the SA Trauma Service.
Communications between paramedics and the EOC is conducted primarily through SA GRN
pagers and radios, but mobile phones may also be used in some circumstances.
From 1951 till 1993, ambulance services in South Australia were run by the St. John Council for South Australia Inc. which was part of St John Ambulance
. Prior to this the metropolitan area was served by:
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The service employs approximately 1200 people, and utilizes 1500 volunteers, working out of 105 locations, operating 323 ambulance vehicles to provide emergency, non-emergency, aeromedical, rescue and retrieval services across the entire state.
Ambulance types
SA Ambulance Service is known to operate a variety of emergency and non-emergency vehicles across the state, which travel in excess of 10 million kilometres each year.All vehicles have distinctive livery, high visibility LED lightbar and warning lights and sirens. Recently introduced new design livery has improved visibility and safety.
Emergency Ambulances
Mercedes Sprinter 315 Vans operate around metropolitan areas whereas country areas use a variety of Ford F350's and Mercedes Sprinter 316, 315 and 318 Vans. All emergency ambulance crews rostered within the Adelaide metropolitan area are skilled at least Paramedic level with numerous crews skilled at Intensive Care Paramedic level. These are the only emergency ambulances equipped with stretchers to transport patients.Patient Transport Service
Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 vans have replaced Ford F series for use by the Ambulance Patient Transport Service. These vehicles do not carry the same equipment as standard emergency ambulances but are equipped at Basic Life Support level.Extended Care Paramedics
SAAS also operate a team of Extended Care Paramedics, who operate from Mercedes Vito vans. Unlike regular paramedics, ECPs are able to treat patients for common medical issues, and refer to other health providers such as GPs if needed, reducing the need to transport patients to hospital emergency departments unnecessarily.SPRINT (Single Paramedic Response and INTervention)
SPRINT Paramedics use Subaru Forester AWD and the Ford Territory AWD vehicles for rapid response purposes within the Adelaide metropolitan area.SPRINT Bicycles
SPRINT paramedics also utilise bicycles at major events where heavy pedestrian traffic may reduce response times for larger vehicles. The crews may be used to help guide ambulances through busy areas, and carry limited medical equipment including oxygen and a defibrillator.Motorbike Response Unit (MRU)
SAAS is currently trialling the use of rapid response motorbikes, and operates two bikes staffed between six SPRINT paramedics who have been specially trained in conjunction with Victoria PoliceVictoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
.
Management & Operational Command Vehicles
SAAS use a mix of Holden Commodore (Sedan, Wagon, and Captiva variants) and Ford Territory AWD vehicles for Team Leaders and Managers. The Special Operations Team use two Nissan Patrol 4WD vehicles when performing the SOT single responder role. A Toyota Bus (CV1) and a VW Kombi van (CV2) are used as command vehicles for major incidents and planned events.Airwing
SAAS are the controlling authority for the three Motor Accident Commission (MAC) Rescue Helicopters, for the use of roadside trauma response, medical retrievals, training exercises and SAPOLSouth Australia Police
The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
and CFS
Country Fire Service
The SA Country Fire Service is a volunteer based fire service in the state of South Australia in Australia. Many parts of Australia are sparsely populated whilst at the same time they are under significant risk of bushfire. Due to economics, it is prohibitively expensive for each Australian town...
operations. The Royal Flying Doctor Service operate a number of Pilatus PC12 aircraft performing inter-hospital transfers from regional area and first response ambulance service in remote areas.
Special Operations Team
Special Operations Team (SOT) rescue paramedics are trained in high-risk rescue procedures. They work closely with other emergency services and the South Australian Police STAR GroupSpecial Tasks and Rescue
Special Tasks and Rescue is the Police Tactical Group of the South Australia Police.-History:Formed on 30 November 1978 the South Australian Police STAR Group was a rationalisation of specialist resources into one command/unit. Specialist units had existed prior to 1978 within SAPOL to deal with...
. SOT Paramedics also cycle through the new MedSTAR
MedSTAR
MedSTAR is the single retrieval service for the state of South Australia. Formed in 2007, it is controlled by the state government under the Department of Health through the SA Ambulance Service and provides high quality emergency medical retrieval services. MedSTAR is designed to respond to...
retrieval service.
Communications
The SAAS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is based in EastwoodEastwood, South Australia
Eastwood is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Burnside.-Government:Eastwood is covered by the federal Division of Adelaide.At State Government level, Eastwood is a part of the electoral district of Unley.-References:...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, who primarily answer emergency triple-zero (000) calls using the MPDS dispatch system and coordinate SA Ambulance Service resources. The EOC also coordinates the dispatch of the Adelaide Bank State Rescue Helicopter Service. EOC call-takers also provide hospitals with information on clients of the MedicAlert foundation, coordinate calls from the Divers' Emergency Service Network
Divers Alert Network
The Divers Alert Network is a non-profit 501 organization devoted to assisting divers in need. The Research department conducts significant medical research on recreational scuba diving safety...
and the SA Trauma Service.
Communications between paramedics and the EOC is conducted primarily through SA GRN
Government Radio Network (Australia)
The Government Radio Network is the umbrella term used to refer to various systems in place across Australia that enable state-wide trunked radio communication. The network operates through inter-linked sites for government and public services such as police, ambulance, fire, or roads authorities...
pagers and radios, but mobile phones may also be used in some circumstances.
History
SAAS came into being in 1993 as a result of the Ambulance Services Act 1992 which formed an association S.A. St. John Ambulance Service Inc as a joint venture between the Minister of Health and Priory in Australia of the Grand Priory of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. The name of the association was amended to SA Ambulance Service Inc in 2005 and in 2008, SAAS became an agency under the Minister of Health.From 1951 till 1993, ambulance services in South Australia were run by the St. John Council for South Australia Inc. which was part of St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance Australia
St John Ambulance Australia is a self-funding charitable organisation dedicated to helping people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger. It is part of an international organisation that consists of eight Priories that form the Order of St John.- History :St John First Aid training centres...
. Prior to this the metropolitan area was served by:
- SA Ambulance Transport Inc. (originally Hindmarsh Volunteer Ambulance formed in 1921), seven vehicles based at Hindmarsh, Unley and Port Adelaide
- Civil Ambulance (Police DepartmentSouth Australia PoliceThe South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
) two vehicles based at Angas St, Adelaide - Northern Suburbs Ambulance Association, one vehicle based at Prospect
- Joe Myren's Private Ambulance, one vehicle based at Glen Osmond Road, Parkside