Lifesaving on the beach will get a little easier: Fire department to get new utility vehicle

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Time is of the essence in any emergency, but when paramedics have to respond to an incident on the beach, things can get complicated. Walking through sand with an empty backboard can be hard enough, but running back to the ambulance with an injured person on that backboard can be even trickier.

That’s why the Boca Grande Fire Department has ordered a beach vehicle which will allow them to easily transport patients through the sand. It’s called a Kubota RTV900 MEDLITE Transport cot unit. It is a diesel utility vehicle, and it will be retrofitted for fire and paramedic use.

“The vehicle will be primarily used for beach access for EMS calls and the transport of patients from the beach,” said Chief C.W. Blosser. “An EMS skid unit was also donated to the department and will be installed to facilitate the transport of patients off the Beach. The unit will also be used for search and rescue operations and special details at events.”

The vehicle has been purchased with a community grant through the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

After the vehicle is customized with emergency strobe lights, as well as Department of Transportation regulation lights and other options, it will arrive sometime in October.