ANDOVER – Chief Michael Mansfield is pleased to announce that Andover Fire Rescue, thanks to generous support from Merrimack Valley Striders (MVS) and the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation, Inc., is launching an EMS Bike Team to speed up effective emergency response at community events.
The team, which will initially have 14 members, will deploy to community events such as Andover Days, car shows, sporting events, road races, and holiday events to provide emergency medical services to those in attendance.
Bike teams are cost-effective and can reach patients far more quickly than a traditional ambulance, especially at high-density events where navigating through crowds with an ambulance can be challenging.
Members of the EMS Bike Team will be fully equipped to provide Basic Life Support to individuals while an ambulance is en route, providing critical first aid within moments.
The teams will also allow responders to interact with crowds at community events between calls, increasing community engagement.
The creation of an EMS Bike Team at Los Angeles International Airport dramatically improved response times. In one instance the EMS Bike Team provided first aid to a patient in just three minutes, while it took a fully equipped ambulance 45 minutes to arrive.
The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation and MVS began working with Andover Fire Rescue at the Annual Feaster Five Road Race. That work led to conversations about adding an EMS Bike Unit.
Allen Ryan, a Merrimack College graduate student working with the Town of Andover as a Municipal Innovation Fellow, researched costs, benefits, what would be needed to start and maintain an EMS Bike Unit, and other issues, and provided invaluable assistance to the effort.
The Merrimack Valley Striders and Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation are providing financial support of $21,824 to cover equipping and training costs.
Members of the EMS Bike Team were trained earlier this month, building skills in advance of what is hoped will be a Memorial Day launch for the unit.
“EMS Bike Teams are a cost-effective way for us to improve response times at community events, and we are grateful to Merrimack Valley Striders and the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation for supporting this effort and making this team’s creation possible with their generous financial support,” said Chief Mansfield. “We hope this unit will help build upon our relationship with the Andover community while also saving lives and providing an additional sense of security for all those at Andover events.”
About Merrimack Valley Striders
Merrimack Valley Striders was founded in 1979 with the mission to encourage and enhance running at all levels. Every member of MVS is respected as an athlete — whether they are young or old, capable of winning races or further back in the pack, a seasoned marathoner, or a member who is simply seeking to improve his or her health. Though the organization was founded in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts, it has grown and now touches runners as far away as Florida and California. To learn more, visit: https://www.merrimackvalleystriders.com/.
About the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation, Inc.
The Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation seeks to inspire and empower youth across New England and beyond to increase physical activity, expand literacy, and build community and self-esteem through running, reading, and performing acts of kindness. Their vision is rooted in a belief that discovering a passion for physical activity, reading, and acts of kindness at a young age gives individuals self-confidence and self-respect, which empowers them to move forward — one step at a time. For over 18 years, the foundation has remained committed to preparing individuals for future success and building vibrant communities. For more information on the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation, visit www.davemcgillivrayfoundation.org or follow the foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
