Two Ambulance and Rescue paramedics on bicycles will be ready to respond to medical emergencies around the Quay and the piers, where large crowds are expected on 9 May.
Being on bikes will give them the ability to get through the crowds and reach areas which might not be immediately accessible to four-wheeled ambulance vehicles.
The two bicyles are part of the St John Guernsey charity Cycle Response Unit and have upgraded frames, strengthened wheels and specially designed panniers to enable them to cope with the additional medical equipment kits, a slimmed-down version of those carried in ambulances.
This is the first time since the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day that paramedics will be using bicycles, which in other years have been ridden by voluntary first aiders.
‘While we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day, we do need to be prepared for the possibility of someone becoming unwell or getting injured, so the cycle paramedics will be an important addition to our event plans,’ said Ambulance and Rescue’s head of operations Dean De La Mare.
Teams of volunteers from the charity will also be on duty around Town in the event of minor injuries and to provide support for any other medical incidents and there will be an Ambulance and Rescue operational commander there to oversee and coordinate things.
At the same time, the number of ambulance crews on duty on 9 May is being increased to provide enhanced resilience island-wide.
‘Although a lot of the focus will be on St Peter Port, it is important that we continue to maintain cover for the rest of the island, with the ability to respond to the types of urgent and emergency cases that occur on a daily basis,’ said Mr De La Mare.
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