Chief Fire Officer Josiah Dupuis is calling on his crew to play their part to improve and maintain a high standard of service by the Fire department.
Dupuis made the appeal at the handing over ceremony and the commissioning of two new ambulances on Thursday morning.
According to him, fire officers have a life saving job and there is a requirement from everyone to pull their weight.
“Now that these two ambulances are going to be deployed, fire officers across the island must continue to play their part and that includes answering the telephone when it rings. It requires also the kind of response that we give to ambulance or fire calls; it requires us at all times to also execute our functions with a level of professionalism that is consistent with our task of saving lives,” he said.
The two ambulances will be deployed to the St. Joseph and Grand Bay districts since both districts have been operating without an ambulance over the past few months.
Minister for National Security Charles Savarin, explained that the two new ambulances were minibuses that were modified since it would be costly and would take some time for ambulances to arrive in Dominica.
“For the past several months, the St. Joseph and Grand Bay health districts have been without the service of an ambulance in those districts, they therefore had to be serviced from Roseau. This is not an acceptable situation. Towards the middle of June, approval was given for the purchase of two new ambulances,” Savarin stated.
He pointed out further that in seeking quotations from local car dealers they were informed that a Nissan ambulance would cost $297,500.00 with delivery in five months time and a Toyota ambulance would cost $215,000 with delivery in three to four months time.
However because of the seriousness of the situation, three to four months was considered too long and after consultation with the fire service, it was agreed that in an effort to improve the situation in the shortest possible time, two minibuses would be purchased locally to the total cost of $220,000 and converted for use as ambulances, while one modern fully equipped ambulance costing $215,000 would be ordered through local car dealers.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security (Ag) Steve Hyacinth, added that the way in which the officers utilize the ambulances will reflect the pride and honor which they have in their profession.
“You are given two ambulances today to enable you to execute your duties with a high level of efficiency and effectiveness. Today you have the added responsibility to transport the sick to and from their homes, health centers, hospitals no matter where they come from, all in an effort to save lives,” he said.
Hyacinth urged the officers to take care of the ambulances and ensure that they are always properly serviced. He also encouraged them to seek to maintain the confidence that the public has in them.
The minibuses were converted to ambulances by the mechanic team of the fire and ambulance department.
I work for the ambulance service here in the uk, and from that picture i see there, i do not see any equipment, like a defib or suction unit, or even a intubation machine, i do not see any oxygen cylinders, could some one tell me what equipment and drugs this vehicle carries.
I would love to do a programe and get your medics over to us here in the uk and send some of our paramedics out to you for a while to swap experiance.
I also think it would be a very good idea if each village in DA had a first responder, which is some one who attends a sick person and get to them very quickly and gives aid while waiting for the ambulance and qualifed medics with their much needed drugs and equipment to arrive.
I strongly recommend that we upgrade from the ambulance service to EMS. The service is not about the transport but the full package of practice. Surprisingly though, I have realized that we have no idea how these ambulances are produced. Correct me if I am wrong dealers: when the ambulances are ordered from the dealers e.g. Toyota or Nissan, isn’t it the same buses that are remodeled, that’s why it will take approximately 4 months after purchase to be delivered? Ambulances fall under the classification of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV’s). The vehicle manufacturers like Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford and so on, provide the vehicle shell or chasis as may be required and the retrofitting companies do the designing and layout; thus the reason that the interior and exterior designs vary based on the companies which do the work. For example, you may get two Nissan Ambulances with different retrofitted designs, whereas you may find a Nisssan and a Toyota with the same designs, based on the Retrofitting Company. Looking at the photo, I can see a simple design which I think is insufficient. It tells me that those people have limited resources; but I would recommend a company within the Caribbean to do such work. I know for example in St. Kitts, there is this company designing yachts to your style, it is a similar business. Looking at the cost the Minister indicated, it simply means you purchase the Nissan bus from the dealer and pay an extra $100+ thousand to do the retrofitting and importation. It would even benefit the Fire Department more to work directly with the Manufacturing Company; maybe that would save them at least $40,000.
some of the comments come from disgruntled firemen who after they do their marshey want chief to promote them but they will stay where they are, haters.
Thanks for the ambulances.
why are the ambulance that are running on the roads of Dominica are so empty?
If something happens to someone and they are being picked up on an ambulance, can the emergency personnel have anything to try an help that person while taking them to the hospital? Like oxygen, drips, etc……..
And why don’t the gurney has a sheet on it before putting a patient on it? Everyone is just placed on that TAPOLIN.
We are watching enough television here on emergency to know and do better>
God Bless Dominica and everyone of us.
Great! This was truly needed. Just wonder about the quality of the Ambulance since it was retrofitted in Dominica. But this is an excellent initiative.
Dominica did not “get” 2 new ambulances. This gives the impression of them being donations. On the contrary according the Minister, they were purchased locally to the cost of EC$220,000.00. He further stated that one modern fully equipped ambulance costing $215,000 would be ordered through local car dealers. Guess what that’s taxpayers money being put to use by the government and as such we are not obliged to be “grateful” for the provision of such essential services. We voted them in office to conduct such business on our behalf. Should we be grateful that they doing thee work we expected them to be doing all along these years in office.
these guys are nut should not even mention that,are you clowns for real,do the math.
I have to statements to make here! One is that the people who are working with DNO needs to study their work better than that, is NOT fire men they get is AMBULANCE so why are you showing the firemen for? Be more professional than that, and (2) people in this Country are too idiotic and they need to know that, when an accident happens and their family is involve there is much to be said, like is laziness, worthlessness, no good, good for nothing, bad government, government lie and all those things now 2 ambulances was giving to them to do the work is something else, it seems we still have a large quantity of blue DONKEYS here in Dominica, can someone send them to Guadeloupe
well, well, well,i never though that my people would be so bent on critique that they cant see the good in an effort to enhance the fire department and develop the skills of the officers, has any of u visited, view the ambulances to see the engineering skills of our local officers? after tested and proven there will be no need for importing expensive ambulances, officers evaluate your skills and once proven improve on it, continue to make your country proud congratulation.
where were these things hiding? papa bon dieu
The stone ages called and they say they want their stretcher van (which we call an ambulance) back.
The people feel they deserve a proper ambulance with all the features that will help save lives. One with modern features and well trained staff that can do more to save lives.
Why are we always so happy with below average?
We are in a day and age of advancing medical equipment.
We have new roads being built and other infrastructure, but as it comes to healthcare, just pop a stretcher in a new fan and let us call it an ambulance.
Sorry, I can achieve the same goal by putting down the seats in the back of my car. But would I call my car an ambulance?
y doesn’t the fire chief ask for more for more persons to b employed in the service because they are seriously under staffed? there are stations where u have only onne oficcer working at a time for 2 days in a row, y doesn’t he recommend for more training programs to train the officers to do their work more efficiently? he should ensure tht equipment is always available on the ambulances, u cant expect to get blood out of stone. y dont the authorities put measures in place to ensure tht the gen public respect the ambulance and its siren on the road? y didnt he commend his men for their efforts especially working under such poor conditions and with mediocre equipment. The government needs to understand the importance of the fire service in any country we take them for granted until something serious happens. we need to get serious in this country and put our priorities right
Y not say thank God for what was provided,’small mercies’. Amen
You’re assuming that he has not ask. Remember in the end that Minister of National Security that has to say OK.
new ambulance and no training.hmnn good job u doing well lol.
Brand new SUZUKU APV fully equiped ambulances are readily available for a cost of US$20,000.00 or about EC$54,338.00! Delivery time is 6 weeks!
Are you interested Mr. Fire chief?
All parts are available right here in Dominica whenever parts will be needed.
Are you out of your mind? A Suzuki APV is inadequate for use as an ambulance.It is too small therefore does not have enough space for patient, nurse and emergency equipment. A stretcher is almost longer than the APV so I would like to know whether the cost is the only factor you consider in determining what kind of ambulance to buy.
DNO why are you not publishing the website that was given?
Did you check the website?
I did again just moments ago. Suzuki, Hyundai, JAC,and NISSAN Ambulances available for immediate shipping.
DNO, did you not see the prices too? They even start as low as US$17500.00!
hea octo is right a ems vehicle is diffrent than an ambulance
So we come there nuh, converting mini buses into and for use as Ambulances? Is that a joke or is that part and parcel of the “next level”? There are so many safety features that an ambulance should be equipped with, are these mini buses equipped with them? Why not just wait for a few more months and get proper ambulances? I really don’t know how these people in authority think, if at all, yet they want the Fire Officers to be able to help save lives:- with half (if all that) equipped vehicles. chuupes
why nut short yoyr tips our take a walk
go try out for reading and writing for dummies
No swimwear? Not even eveningwear?
I am in the wrong business therefor my bus in on sale it goes to the highest bidder. The Government of Dominica taking us to the next level. I want to work on Serah bus.
Write on the ambulance made in Dominica.
I have a dream that one day Dominicans will be more appreciative and less disgruntled about everything! How shall you be pleased, Dominicans? Must you complain about everything, even good things? Why must everything be perfect before you can say a simple, thank you?
Lol. Election gimmick. Desperation ca fen bagaiy wi. Maybe we can get into the minivan to ambulance conversion business and sell ambulances to the rest of the world.
Zor mi couchoni and they even have media presntation wii. Government buys two minivan one for Grandbay and the other for St Joe and is big ceremony. All you my belly hurting me
them man using the ambulance when its time for them to go and get lunch i once saw one of them ambulances goign threw the drive threw by kfc so them man dont care one bit about high standards
da a lie dred
high standard where?
Man you are just sick and your heart must be black with all that negativity in you. Say thank you, ungrateful.
Stupes, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? An ambulance is a bus service that transports people to the hospital. They were donated, say THANK YOU. The Government of Dominica should equip them with the necessary equipment such as the Oxygen and other First Aid material to administer EMERGENCY CARE until the patients arrive at the emergency room. What are you not ready for, the gift, or the fact that it is not fully equipped to your standards? Did you see the contents of the bag? Did you do a thorough examination of the vehicles to ascertain what is or is not inside. I think YOU should contribute the OXYGEN TANK.
Itassi, who donated the buses? The article clearly states they were purchased locally at a total cost of $220,000. Guess you saw a different article or know otherwise.
Stupes,
I agree with you. We never seems to get it right the first time in Dominica, forget the second time. Not even the third time… Its about time we have a proper Ambulance service in Dominica, you can’t have fire fighters driving ambulance, around Dominica like a taxi service.
We really need to do better than that. I agree with Stupes, in asking for the oxygen. Do we have paramedics, often times its just the patient and the driver and that is not acceptable. We are just not ready. No body from the Ministry of Health is there? Why?
Did I read this madness correctly? We ‘modiay’ two passenger minibuses locally in the Firestation garage and called them ambulances and had an official ceremony to launch them? Somebody will sue you people one of these good days! Be careful who you all kill in those things!
i feel sorry for the fire department. in this day and age we taking 2 busses and put a strecher in them and call them ambulances? the fire department needs serious management and is lacking soo much yet we have a chief that will noy stand up for his men and their needs but just kiss the behinds of the ministers and pretend everything is fine . do you know that if a serious fire was to go down in Roseau the department would have to watch a number of buildings go down because there is no breathing apparatus to fight fires offensively? do you know that the barrack rooms are infested with rats and roaches? do you know that the ambulance drivers work 24hour shifts?….just a few of the many issues that needs to be addressed yet the chief will stand on the media and say all is well in the department…the department should look for reliable rather than cheap equipment.
Utter Rubbish Mr. Charles, How the hell it takes 4-5 months to get an ambulance to Dominica. What happy to Rush Delivery.. This is really Unacceptable to the Dominican Public. You order a car from China and it take 1-2 months to get to Dominica. From Miami it takes 1 month. Why isn’t the Hon. Henderson try get one from the US to send down ASAP. The Government really need some NEW, FRESH AND INTELLIGENT HEADS to run the Country
We don’t get card from china
where the oxgen am i just seeing a bus with a bed.still grateful safe driving.
Were J. Astaphan agent for Mitsubish, and Acme Garage agent for Ford, and Hyundai unable to provide costings?
Were not the last set of six ambulances (48 & 49, 51 to 54) sourced from Acme Garage?
Were they not
1. very comfortable to drive,
2. very good looking,
3. most spacious,
4. very quick,
5. was not their purchase cost as well as their overall maintanence cost very reasonable, with most body parts being readily obtainable?
Are most of the parts and modifications to the the new buses turned into transport ambulances taken from real Hyundai H1 ambulances? It certainly appears so! Therefore, the previous Hyundai H1 ambulances must have been good.
nope!! far from good
two more to damage who cares is not there money that buy it
More ambulances to just run as a bus service. Transport people to hospital. Where is the Oxygen to administer when a patient is picked up in an emergency situation!!!!! We just not ready yet.
Then why don’t you make a meaningful contribution to your country by means of a proper ambulance. That way would assist us towards being ready.
its better than nothing.
I agree. I think the they need to have trained responders or one might as well take a regular vehicle to the hospital in an emergency situations. Some medical equipment should also be on the ambulance
One more thing..I noticed that buses and other vehicles just overtake the ambulance at will. This is so crazy….vehicles should automatically pull over to make way for the emergency vehilces…fire trucks ambulances police etc. It should be punishable to do such a thing. Imagine your family member is dying in that ambulance and the ambulance has to pull over/slow down for another vehicle which driver just feel like overtaking….jeez.
While oxygen should be a requirement it is not always required in an emergency situation and while it is not seen in the photo, it can be added easily.
However, given the situation, it is better to have a converted mini-bus as an ambulance instead of none at all.
Then again, there is a difference between an ambulance and an EMS vehicle.
So are you saying oxygen should only be put there when it is needed..do u realise how foolish this sounds? Thing is you never know when it is needed. Correction – this is the most basic requirement for an ambulance. And of course it should be there from the onset. Nonsense..about converting mini bus. Then Don’t call it an ambulance.