The Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association is currently constructing a supply
trailer for use at 'Mass Casualty Incidents' in an effort to be prepared for the future. When
complete, this trailer will provide the supplies to support treatment of up to 35 patients.
Contained within the trailer will be medical supplies, an oxygen system that can supply up to 10 patients, IV supplies,
backboards, and portable canopies that could be set up over treatment areas. Also contained in the trailer will
be the communications equipment and other materials necessary for the officers of the association to create a central
control point for directing the medical operations at the scene.
The front portion of the trailer will contain a small 'office' type space, which will include a table, several
chairs, and can be utilized as a changing area if necessary. The rear portion of the trailer will house the supply
area and the 'LENKO' sled.
The trailer will also be used for transporting the 'LENKO' sled, and ramps will be built in the near future to
facilitate the loading and unloading. This will provide the capability of moving the sled to various deployment
sites as needed without difficulty.
The trailer will also be deployed to various events in town that utilize the 'Bike
Team' and will allow them to store their bikes at the events rather than having to transport them back and
forth during events lasting more than one day. Also events with a large turnout, such as the 'walk-for-life', will
see the trailer deployed there.
For 'Suffield On The Green', temporary shelving was cut down, painted and installed along with some supplies and
backboards in an effort to show the people of Suffield how the trailer will be utilized.
As of October 10th, 2002 the trailer has been striped and lettered for the association, and some needed supplies
have been purchased. The interior has been painted a gloss white in an effort to make the interior as bright as
possible for night operations. Shelving has arrived and will be installed in the near future. Also in the near
future, we are expecting to order more of the BLS supplies that will ultimately be stocked as well as a few cardboard
backboards. The plan is to purchase more of these backboards next year.
Current plans include the construction of the table in the front of the trailer along with a 'divider wall,' which
will separate the supply area from the 'office' area. However the office area will also contain the supplies that
will be utilized for rehab of EMS/POLICE/FIRE personnel. As mentioned previously, this space will also double as
a changing area should someone become contaminated. Scrubs (our thanks to the 'Second Chance Shop' in the center
of town for their donation) will be available to change into.
Future plans include the purchase of 'ALS' supplies, training the trailer operators on how to deploy the trailer,
the contents of the trailer, deploying supplies on scene, and setting up the treatment area. We hope to have the
trailer up and running during the first quarter of 2003, and to provide an 'IN-SERVICE' training session to familiarize
everyone with the capabilities of the unit.
