Saugus officials praise new ambulance company

SAUGUS – In American Ambulance?s first performance review, the company had an approximate response time of four minutes, according to the Saugus Fire Department.In a letter to Town Manager Scott Crabtree, Fire Chief Donald McQuaid wrote that the company?s centralized location on Hamilton Street “has led to less lag time on scene,” and commented that its performance had been “professional.” Police Chief Domenic DiMella made the same remark in his own letter, adding that more ambulances and “better communication and additional services” made for a better service.At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Crabtree told the board the response time was a “significantly faster response time than what we?ve had in the past.” American Ambulance?s contract officially began Dec. 1, when the town switched services after 13 years with Cataldo Ambulance.DiMella added that the company had also been picking up and disposing of hypodermic needles and had conducted first responder training for his officers. Crabtree added that American Ambulance had also given training to teachers and nurses at some of the district?s schools and given blood glucose monitoring clinics at the town?s library and senior center, as well as host Saugus High School students for Job Shadow Day.After reading aloud the reports from McQuaid and DiMella, Crabtree said he was personally pleased with American Ambulance after a recent scare when his 4-year-old daughter went into anaphylactic shock because of her peanut allergy. Crabtree said she was in the car with his wife on Central Street when his daughter?s throat began to close and his wife was able to get assistance quickly because she drove to the American Ambulance headquarters instead of to the closest hospital.?I?m very thankful they had the resources,” said Crabtree.