Whakapapa Village gets new ambulance drivers

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 599, 15 August 1995, Page 12 (Supplement)

Whakapapa Village gets new ambulance drivers

The Grand Chateau, along with Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, Discovery Hotel and Plateau Guides, has sponsored the training of four new ambulance drivers for the Whakapapa Village. The ambulance itself is the only one of its kind in New Zealand, being a four wheel drive Chevrolet, with a 6.8 litre turbo diesel engine. Tongariro Volunteer Ambulance training officer Bob Forgan says the organisation is extremely grateful to all the sponsors as training costs around $300 per driver. "It's really important that we had some more drivers because most of the ones we've got work around the area," Bob says. "Which means if they're up the Mountain for instance, they can be hard to find when you need them." A special licence is required to drive an ambulance, as well as a minimum 40 hours medical training to qualify as an ambulance officer. The ambulance is most often used for road accidents, generally caused by the icy conditions, and transfers from the ski field to Taumarunui hospital.