Dougherty County EMS Gator makes first rescue in wooded terrain

ALBANY — It didn’t take long for a utility vehicle purchased for Dougherty County Medical Services to prove its value by reaching a patient located in an area impassable by traditional rescue platforms.

Near the end of 2023, the ambulance service received a call to a medical emergency at a secluded location that could not be reached even by a four-wheel-drive pickup truck, EMS Director Sam Allen said. The John Deere Gator recently purchased for EMS was able to reach the patient, who was loaded on the back and transported to an ambulance.

“We had a person that was way back in the woods,” Allen said. “It was a homeless camp we were going to. The woods we were going through, the supervisor’s truck was able to make it only one-third of the way.”

The Dougherty County Commission approved the purchase, which totaled $30,000 including the Gator and equipment, in September, and it took a couple of months to make the purchase and equip the vehicle.

The patient from the December call was successfully transported to the hospital and had a good outcome, Allen said.

“With our training steps we took with it, it went flawless,” he said. “With the UTV they were able to provide care while they were transporting the patient to the ambulance.”

The utility vehicle has four seats and an EMS skid on the rear to which a patient can be secured with a backboard. It also has a seat in the rear from which an EMT can care for patients.

“It is designed with an IV pole and oxygen harness,” Allen said.

In the past, when the EMS has had calls to wooded areas, including a plane crash, or for dirt bikers in the Albany sand dunes, EMTs have had to carry patients to the ambulance by hand, which takes precious time in an emergency situation, the director said.

Some time ago, EMS learned the value of a utility vehicle on a call to southern Dougherty County near the Mitchell Power Plant, where a rider on an all-terrain vehicle had been injured. The driver of a UTV was able to help EMTs get the patient to an ambulance faster than medical personnel could have done on foot.

“It really cuts down on the time during the golden hour with trauma patients,” Allen said.

The Gator is kept on a trailer, ready for deployment, and can be sent out when there is a chance the rescue will require its use, the director said. If not needed, it can be turned around en route.

The vehicle also has uses inside the city in less rugged terrain, Allen said.

One of those is for the annual Combos Marathon race or for parades or other large outdoor events. On those occasions, the Gator can cut through thick crowds of people quicker than an ambulance, he said.

The walking trail on the east side of the Flint River is also inaccessible to ambulances, and that is an area where there have been a number of calls in the past, Allen said.

“It’s just substantial what this one vehicle can help provide us to provide needed care,” he said. “The use of this is unlimited.”

It can also help protect the EMTs and paramedics on the job.

“It can help prevent back injuries and lifting injuries from taking someone half a mile out of the woods on foot,” Allen said.

The purchase was funded with special-purpose local-option sales tax dollars, and Allen said he believes that if it saves one life it is worth that price.

“It’s an investment for our community,” he said. “We’re so thankful for the board of commissioners to allow us to get this equipment so we can use it at a moment’s notice.”

Special Photo: Dougherty County EMSSpecial Photo: Dougherty County EMS