New Ambulance Bus (AMBUS) Presented
CORPUS CHRISTI (News Release) - The City of Corpus Christi received keys to the state’s 16th AMBUS. After Hurricane Harvey, the Corpus Christi Fire Department (CCFD) requested a response unit for mass casualty incidents. An ambulance bus, or AMBUS, was awarded to the city with help from the Coastal Bend Regional Advisory Committee (CBRAC).
The AMBUS is a unique EMS unit that can transport and care for up to 21 patients at one time. Before today, the nearest AMBUS was in the Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio. This new tool will save resources and time during an emergency. The AMBUS can take the place of ten regular-sized ambulances.
The AMBUS is equipped with life-saving equipment and will deploy to local or regional disasters. The typical cost of this type of vehicle and equipment is more than $1 million.
However, there will be no cost to the City other than required maintenance and repairs.
CCFD firefighters began training at the beginning of May and will be ready to utilize the AMBUS when an incident occurs.