In honor of Navajo Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, Navajo EMS shared a public presentation of their new ambulance fleets at the Veterans Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 20.
The overall cost of the 15 new fleets was about $4.5 million. Funding for the new fleet comes from a portion of the Cares Act funds that the Nation received while the rest was funded by the EMS funds to replace the outdated fleets. These new fleets were ordered in 2022, purchased in 2023, and received two weeks ago. The new 15 ambulances are equipped with more up-to-date tools and features.
Navajo EMS plans to purchase another 15 ambulances using funding from the recent Navajo Nation Council allocation of unmet needs by Fall 2025.
They were designed for Navajo, making accessibility to travel through rough terrain and remote areas. The new ambulances are equipped with liquid springs, which allow the unit to adjust its balance to provide comfortable support for patient transportation.
Other features include shocks that can absorb the impacts of potholes, portable repeaters that boost radio signals, and different compartments that store tools for maintenance. It also includes automated Stryker, features that help with heavy lifting for oxygen storage, a stair chair that helps lift patients, and a refrigerator that maintains proper temperature for medications for different outside temperatures year-round.
All these features were built for crew and patient safety.
Additionally, advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Josh Ellison, shared that the key thing about Navajo EMS week is raising awareness of this profession, encouraging current employees to pursue medical school to continue the importance of delivering and services to the Navajo people.
“Not everybody can do what we do, it takes special people to do what we do,” Ellison said.
Although there is a small percentage of paramedics, the Navajo Nation proudly holds an EMS crew that are mostly Navajo.
-Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren
