BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Ada County Paramedics unveiled a brand-new vehicle to help the team in dangerous situations — a custom-made armored ambulance.
The ambulance, plated in black bulletproof metal with the word “RESCUE” on the side, made its debut Monday after Chris Shandera of the Ada County Paramedics’ Tactical Medical Team filled out the grant paperwork necessary to receive the vehicle more than a year ago.
The $312,000 ambulance, delivered by the Department of Homeland Security, will accompany the Ada County Paramedics’ Tactical Medical Team when they join SWAT teams in the field. It will offer paramedics a safe place to render aid to those injured, other than the claustrophobic confines of the SWAT vehicles themselves. It also gives them a place to store more medical equipment.
Paramedics will now be able to bring oxygen with them to calls, something they couldn’t do before for fear of it exploding if struck by gunfire, Shandera said. Now they can keep it safely stored in the back of the ambulance.
“We wish we didn’t have to have this type of equipment, but unfortunately in today’s world, we do,” said Ada County Commissioner Jim Tibbs as he introduced the vehicle.