A donation of sheets of hygieniccladding has been used to convert a horse box into an ambulance so that it can be hitched up to a ‘blue light’ tractor and attend medical emergencies on the remote Channel Island of Sark.
Ariel Plastics answered a plea for help from the Sark Ambulance Service, as it was looking to replace its outdated former ambulance, so that the volunteer-run emergency medical response service could continue to reach those in need of medical help on an island where no cars are allowed and the 500+ residents get around by foot, bicycle, or horse and cart.
The new ambulance has been fitted out with hygienic cladding and is now in service. It forms part of the local Community First Responders service, which is supported by the island’s doctor and the team at Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey, who not only provide backup but also have the Flying Christine ambulance boat permanently stationed in St Peter Port harbour, if residents need to be transferred to Guernsey.
When it heard about the plight, Ariel Plastics – which is the UK’s largest plastics distribution company and has served the builders’ merchant market for more than 60 years – was happy to donate six of its Coroclad Satin solid PVC hygienic cladding sheets, which are tough and durable and prohibit microbial materials from being absorbed into the sheets.
Commercial Sales Manager, Paul Goddard, said that it was one of the company’s customers, Norman Piette – the largest timber and builders’ merchant in Guernsey – that asked the Derbyshire-based company if it could help by donating the sheets.
“We were only too happy to help a service that provides a genuine lifeline to the small community on Sark,” said Paul.
“Our cladding is typically installed in medical centres, food preparation areas, commercial kitchens, clean rooms, bathrooms and changing room facilities – basically any environment where there is a requirement for an area to be as hygienic as possible.
“We have lots of examples of where Coroclad has been installed in public and commercial buildings where there is a requirement for hygienic areas – but being used to convert a horse box into an ambulance is a new one for us! It is a great example of the versatility of Coroclad.”
More information about Coroclad can be found at www.arielplastics.com.
