Nelson better prepared for an emergency

Nelson is better prepared for an emergency with the arrival of a brand-new Major Incident Support Team (MIST) vehicle.

While it may look a bit like an ambulance, it is anything but.

The Gen 4 Mercedes MIST enables better assistance in a mass-casualty event, providing support to clinical teams and ambulances.

It carries everything from food and water to radio communications, PPE and specialised equipment for treating burns, breaks and injuries.

Each is carefully stored in a blue case, which is then stacked like a puzzle in order of what is most likely to be needed first in an emergency.

Currently, the Nelson Tasman region has nine ambulances which can each treat and transport one patient at a time.

“With all the resources deployed in Nelson, we can treat nine patients,” says MIST member Tony McLeod. “With this vehicle, it’s the equipment to deal with 100 patients.”

The vehicle is equipped with a 48 square metre blow-up tent, which can be set up as a triage area on site, and a gazebo to allow for incident control.

“We’ll be a backup for any clinical team, any mass casualties, anything over 10 patients we would get a call to respond and support the clinical team in the field,” says MIST team leader Marty Price.

The vehicle is the ninth in the country to be deployed as part of a full replacement of the MIST fleet.

The MIST team, which was established in 2001, has previously been using a second-hand ambulance up until now.

The entire team of 13 are volunteers who all have full-time jobs. They are currently seeking more volunteers to join the response team.

The  new vehicle was purchased with grant money from the Lion Foundation and the entire MIST team are unanimous in saying it would not have been possible without them.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you,” Tony says.

St John district operations manager, James McMeekin, says the primary role of the vehicle is to support in logistics, additional, gear, supplies and manpower.

“It allows us to offset demand we put on hospitals and assists with restocking. It’s a valuable resource very much in its infancy, but we are really starting to recognise what the potential here is and what it can do,” he says.

“Lion Foundation have allowed us to realise this vehicle that’s fit for purpose rather than a second-hand ambulance that’s been fitted out. It’s a good morale boost recognising just how important the MIST team are to the wider operation.”

On the same day the MIST vehicle was officially welcomed into the Hato Hone St John team, a new ambulance was also dedicated in Richmond which was donated by Pub Charity.