By Laura Michell
Mernda residents can take a peak inside the suburb’s first ambulance branch this weekend.
Ambulance Victoria will open the doors to the new station at 1411 Plenty Road on Sunday from noon-3pm – a month after a team of paramedics began working from Mernda.
The open day will include a display of historic ambulances, tours of the new station, face painting and a free sausage sizzle.
People can also register their automated external defibrillators, watch CPR demonstrations and talk with paramedics.
The new station houses a 24-hour team of paramedics and includes training facilities, rest and recline rooms, a kitchen and four ambulance bays.
It was funded in the 2016-17 state budget as part of a $66.9 million cash splash to improve ambulance response times.
First patients
Since the branch opened, its paramedics, who were previously based at Diamond Creek, have been responding to incidents across Whittlesea.
Among the patients to be treated was Mernda schoolgirl Esha, who fell from the monkey bars at school on her sixth birthday, fractured an arm and wrist.
Paramedics from Mernda took Esha to The Northern Hospital by ambulance, where she was fitted with a cast.
Her parents, Manjit and Navdeep Dhesi, said it had been their first experience with Ambulance Victoria and paramedics.
“We were just amazed with the service and the care that Esha received,” Ms Dhesi said.
“The paramedics took Esha to hospital and then returned later on with the gift of a cupcake and a happy birthday song. She really loved that.”
Ambulance Victoria senior team manager Stephen Moody said the new branch would improve response times in Whittlesea.
“In a medical emergency, every second counts,” he said.
“With around-the-clock coverage in Mernda, our patients can have the peace of mind that we will be there when they need us.”
