Submitted by San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1.

On November 10th, 2021, San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services celebrated the addition of a new ambulance to their fleet by hosting a push-in ceremony. Members of the public, press, and Hospital District Board were invited to assist EMS employees and volunteers in a traditional “push-in” ceremony and celebrate the benefits the new ambulance will bring to the island. The new ambulance will replace one of San Juan EMS’s older vehicles, which has been sold to fire station Skagit 13, located near La Conner, WA.

A traditional “push-in” ceremony is when a new emergency services vehicle is pushed into the station by hand to mark it ready for public service. The “push-in” tradition began in the 1800s when firefighters would move a carriage back into the station by hand once the firefighters had unhooked the horses. It is recreated today to respect the past and honor the humble beginnings of emergency service.

The new ambulance will be the first at San Juan EMS equipped with four-wheel-drive, LiquidSpring shock absorbers, and zero-emissions technology. The innovative features of the new ambulance will help Medics and EMTs provide higher quality patient care to San Juan Island residents and visitors.

This ambulance marks a leap forward in technological advancements and safety – a standard that San Juan EMS expects to carry into 2022 through a multitude of different projects and objectives.