By Jane Ford-Stewart
WEST ALLIS, WI — The little ambulance that could will stand at the ready for health emergencies at the Wisconsin State Fair this year for the first time.
The little ambulance only arrived at the West Allis Fire Department in late winter equipped with all-terrain capability, winches and other equipment to help rescue people in hard-to-get-at places. But it holds everything that a paramedic could want.
The West Allis medical emergency service is happy to have the little ambulance because being only about as wide as golf car, it can thread through heavy crowds at the state fair. The open vehicle that is used now can do that also, but the new little ambulance is enclosed and air-conditioned. Normal city ambulances can’t get through the dense state fair crowds.
It’s definitely a significant upgrade because it’s enclosed for privacy and air-conditioned, which is much better for the patient, said West Allis Assistant Fire Chief Kurt Zellmann who heads the city’s emergency medical service.
Privacy is important, too, as medical procedures sometimes need to be done. Paramedics have even performed CPR on someone as they drove past children at the fair, Zellmann said.
Be Busy
It will see use every day at the state fair, Zellmann said, even though the station West Allis sets up at the fair is geared to advanced care. That includes conditions needing pain control or heat-related problems such as difficulty breathing, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, abdominal pain and chest pain.
We only do the bad stuff, said Zellmann.
Trips and falls, sprains, and cuts are usually handled by Bell Ambulance, that has an installation at the north end of the fair or by the American Red Cross station in the center of the fair, he said. However, all three work as a team, he said.
Even though the West Allis paramedics handle more serious problems, It can get extremely busy, Zellmann said. The record is 50 patients needing help in just one shift, he said.
South End
The new all-terrain ambulance will be stationed at the south end where the West Allis Fire Department will set up an actual temporary fire station. If a fire breaks out, the fire department doesn’t want fire trucks to be delayed battling through the clogs of cars headed for the fair, Zellmann said.
“Probably the most unusual injury the West Allis paramedics have treated over the years is the occasional kick by horses or other animals,” Zellmann said.
“Probably the most unusual injury the West Allis paramedics have treated over the years is the occasional kick by horses or other animals,” Zellmann said.
“However, by far the most common problems are heat-related,” he said.
Every year, there is a series of chest pain evaluations, he said.
Expert Advice
Zellmann advised people to know their limits, and if it’s hot to sit and rest often, to cool down in air-conditioned buildings and to drink plenty of fluids.
The Red Cross has an air-conditioned area for overheated fair-goers to cool down.
“And wear comfortable shoes. Beware of open-toed shoes, you’re asking for tripping and trouble with those. That’s my opinion, he said.
If fair-goers think they need help, they can go to any of the three medical stations, call 911, or stop any security or police officer, Zellmann said.
“Especially if people have chest pain or difficulty breathing. We do not want to have people ignore that, he said.
West Allis chipped in $5,000 toward the $73,000 cost of the ambulance. State and private grants paid the rest.The little ambulance is available to all area departments.
“Already, it has seen service at the recent train derailment in West Allis,” Zellmann said. “It carried officials to inspect the accident scene.” <span class=”CharOverride-73″>❂
An all-terrain ambulance that’s no wider than a golf car so it can get through heavy crowds but that still holds equipment paramedics need will be on duty at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair.
