The ambulance service is the flagship for St John. Lights and sirens give St John emergency ambulance work high visibility but it is not generally known or understood that St John is a charity that fundraises for its ambulances and equipment.
Join the Indian Weekender in our Make a Difference for St John fundraising campaign to get another St John ambulance on the road.
St John provides ambulance services to 85% of New Zealanders and responds nationally to more than 300,000 emergency incidents every year – up to 125,000 of those are within the Northern Region.
There are 601 ambulances and operational vehicles nationally, 173 within the Northern Region.
St John Northern Region General Manager Stephen Franklin says, “With the help of the Indian Weekender we aim to put another ambulance on the road.”
It costs more than $150,000 to put an ambulance on the road. This includes some $16,000 worth of lights and sirens.
Medical equipment is an additional cost including $33,900 alone for an MRX Defibrillator; $10,000 Stryker stretcher and $1,200 for an oxygen cylinder & supplies. A dozen gauze squares at 20 cents each may not seem a large amount but gauze squares, like much of any ambulance’s medical supplies, constantly need replacing, often after every callout. Over a 12 hour shift suddenly a 20 cent bandage becomes a significant expense!
For information on how to donate please email info@indianweekender.co.nz