Serving the Communities of Apple Valley, Lakeville and Farmington, Minnesota
Serving the Communities of Apple Valley, Lakeville and Farmington, Minnesota
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Here are some of the milestones in the history of ALF Ambulance.
January 1, 1986
ALF Ambulance begins operations. The area was previously served by an ambulance service
affiliated with Divine Redeemer Hospital in South St. Paul. Each city paid for the service
on a per capita basis. As a neighboring city formed their own paramedic service, rates for
the other cities served by Divine Redeemer were increased. Apple Valley, Lakeville and
Farmington city officials concluded that they could perform the needed services at a
reduced cost to the communities. Two new ambulances were purchased at a total cost of
$94,538. One 24 hour unit was put into service operating out of Apple Valley Fire Station
#1.
January 1, 1986
00:38 hours
ALF Ambulance responds to its first call for assistance. A woman had fallen from a three
wheeler onto ice covered Lake Marion. The woman was transported to Fairview Ridges
Hospital where she was treated and released. Ironically a second call for service was
received during the time paramedics were treating the woman. As a result, Divine Redeemer
Ambulance was called and handled the call under a mutual aid agreement.
October, 1986
Due to higher than projected call loads a second ambulance is placed into service on a
part time basis. The unit operated Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 8
p.m. Its base of operation rotated between Lakeville Fire Station #1 and the Farmington
Fire Station. Extra part time personnel were hired to accommodate the expanded service.
August, 1988
A third ambulance was purchased at a vehicle and equipment cost of $77,000. This new
ambulance would allow for a backup unit for the two original ambulances.
August, 1988
ALF equips its ambulances with Opticom Traffic Signal Pre-emption devices. This
allows paramedics to turn all red lights to green and allow safe travel through an
intersection while operating in the emergency red lights and siren mode.
January, 1989
Hours of operation for the second ambulance were expanded to 16 hours per day (7am to
11pm) and increased to seven days per week. The average response time was 6 minutes
compared to a national average of 8 minutes.
April, 1991
Construction began that would turn Apple Valley Fire Station #1 into a city
showpiece and provide new quarters for ALF Ambulance. ALF previously occupied the second
floor of the fire station. Two new bays and an office area were constructed for the use of
ALF.
October, 1991
ALF Ambulance moves into its new Apple Valley quarters.
July, 1994
ALF adds a mass casualty incident response trailer to its fleet of vehicles. The
trailer is designed and equipped to handle 50 casualties. It is stocked with both advanced
and basic life support equipment. The 50 plywood backboards carried on the unit were made
by students of the Farmington High School Industrial arts class as a class project. Cost
of the unit and equipment was $12,500.
November, 1995
Area police and fire departments add automatic external defibrillators (AED's) to
their police cars and fire trucks. The Minnesota Zoo First Aid Team also carries the AED's
January, 1996
ALF celebrates 10 years of service. During that time we saw our service area
population grow from 51,413 to 83,721. We also transported 15,885 patients a total of
132,365 miles to the hospital of their choice.
November, 1996
ALF Ambulance expands coverage by increasing the hours of operation of the second
ambulance to 24 hours. ALF would now operate two 24 hour units. Two new ambulances are
purchased in 1996 to replace the two original ambulances.
February, 1997
ALF Ambulance Co-Medical Director Dr. Jeff Swanson is named 1996 Medical Director of
the Year by the Minnesota Ambulance Association.
June, 1997
ALF again upgrades its level of service with the addition of pre-arrival instructions.
When an emergency medical call is received by the dispatcher the information is obtained
and the units are dispatched. The caller is then transferred (if they wish to be) to a
contracted private EMS agency. An emergency medical professional at that agency will issue
first aid advice and instructions to the caller until the first responder and paramedics
arrive.
February, 1998
ALF moves into its new interim quarters at the Water Treatment Facility in the City
of Lakeville. Previously this unit was stationed at Lakeville Fire Station #1. These new
interim quarters will house the ambulance, personnel and ALF's MCI trailer until the new
Fire Station is built next door.
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