September 1, 2016

New Provincial Pediatric Ambulance Unveiled

A new pediatric ambulance for Saskatchewan was unveiled in front of a crowd of 800 guests at the Synergy 8 Drive for Kids golf tournament and dinner in Saskatoon earlier this week.

Complete with infrared night vision to detect wildlife and a larger gas tank to reduce stops, the new ambulance replaces a previous model, which has logged over 360,000 km. The new ambulance, which comes with a price tag of over $400,000, features two transport bays to allow the provincial Pediatric Transport Team to safely treat two patients at once.  It also comes equipped with four seats so that parents are now able to travel with the medical team.

“This is a world class state-of-the-art vehicle,” explains Troy Davies of Synergy 8. “This truck is built in the back to provide proper space, lighting, suspension, and safety features to ensure the NICU/PICU teams can effectively treat these young little patients. It has two built-in tanks of Medical Air, which is different from oxygen, for Neonatal Isolates. For the first time, Crestline has installed soft blue lighting in the back of the ambulance to try and relax these sick little patients. Also installed in the back is a 28-inch DVD flat screen to play movies for the kids.”

The existing ambulance has transported over 2,000 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) & Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients to date. The Pediatric Transport Team made 478 trips last year, either by ambulance or fixed wing aircraft. The majority of the team’s ground transport trips were to Prince Albert, North Battleford, Lloydminster, and either full trips to Regina or with a designated meeting point half-way between the Queen City and Saskatoon. Pediatric transport trips have doubled in the last several years and when the doors open on the new Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan, the number of ambulance trips is expected to increase to one per day across the province.

“This hospital-on-wheels will allow children right across Saskatchewan to have access to the best healthcare possible while in transit,” says Brynn Boback-Lane, President & CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. “We are very proud to work with long-time partners Synergy 8 Community Builders, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, SIGA, the Graham & Ruby DeLaet Foundation, and Mosaic to bring this much-needed piece of pediatric equipment to our province’s children.”

Through donations to the Children’s Hospital Radiothon in Saskatoon in February, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan contributed $100,000 to the project, which was matched by the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. Through its fundraising efforts, Synergy 8 brought numerous other partners on board.

This is the second time Synergy 8 Community Builders have supported the purchase of a pediatric ambulance in Saskatchewan. The current ambulance built in 2009 replaced the province’s first dedicated pediatrics ambulance which hit the road in 1999. It was funded by the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan and SIGA. Synergy 8 Community Builders has also previously partnered with the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan for a new NICU Ultrasound Machine in 2010 and Incubators/Ventilators in 2014.  Synergy 8’s annual Drive for Kids golf tournament has featured legendary golfers and media personalities like Fred Couples, David Feherty, Jay Haas, Tom Watson, and this year’s Curtis Strange and Holly Sonders.