Here we go again with another ambulance update on our accomplishments over the low season. These figures were gathered from reports from April 2 to September 23. Before I begin, I want to mention that I pulled up a past summary to do a little comparison. Over the summer months in 2024, we had 37 calls, 7 of which were scorpion stings. During the period of this report, we did 128 calls, 67 of which were scorpion stings. Yes, the team has been very busy!

So let’s talk about scorpion stings. I have no idea why the scorpion population has increased so much over the last two years. We’ve helped many people, small children to older adults and everything in between. The stung person comes to the ambulance base and is set up with an IV. Antivenom is introduced into the IV, and then we wait to see if it is working, usually for 2 hours. Yes, we answer those calls and wait with the patient —even if it’s 3 a.m. Sometimes a second dose of antivenom is required, and if that second dose doesn’t help, we rush the person to the hospital. The most important things to remember are to watch carefully for the scorpions, and keep the ambulance number close by.

Our next biggest number of calls was for motorcycle accidents. We had ten call for injuries related to moto crashes, ranging from cuts and abrasions, to open wounds requiring stitches, to broken bones. Many of the crashes involved young boys. Parents, please teach your children to ride carefully and to display lights so others can see them. We also had 4 car accidents, with even one fatality.

Another call we recieved frequently was for falls—9 calls. Some were for people who simply fell from their own height, and others were falls from stairs, trees, and other objects. These also resulted in scrapes, concussions, and broken bones. We helped them all to get to the care they needed.

And there were assorted other calls. Three women had problems with their pregnancy. We had 4 cases of severe diabetes. Eight people had dangerously high blood pressure, and 3 had dangerously low blood pressure. We saved three people from drowning, and helped two people with hematomas, 2 with convulsions, and two heart attacks. There was one jelly fish sting, one dog bite, one case of pneumonia, and one person with breathing issues.

We also work with other teams and with hospitals out of our area. We were called on seven times to transfer a patient from one hospital to another that could better serve them.

I am so proud of this team. They get paid $800p for each call, and that pay includes washing the ambulance inside and out, restocking it, writing detailed reports on each call, and attending any training opportunities. Additionally, although La Huerta supplies us with 20-40 liters of gasoline a week, we sometimes have to buy more. We also buy other medical supplies and oxygen. As you can imagine, with all these calls, we have almost gone through all our funds raised last high season. So I’m asking for your donations. Please help to keep this invaluable service running.

Some people have decided to do a yearly donation of $2000 or $3000 pesos every year. Some take their donations directly to our treasurer, Mayan, at La Manzanilla Homes, or give them directly to me. Also we have an account at Kapital that accepts both inter-bank transfers and international transfers. Some folks have very good luck using WISE to transfer. Additionally there is a PayPal account you can use. If you’re interested in using Kapital or PayPal, simply ask me. That information is constantly being updated, so I can give you the latest information.

Of course, we will have fundraisers for the ambulance. We will be at the Art Festival again this year taking oxygen and blood pressure readings and giving out magnets. Come see us, and make a donation! You never know when the person needing an ambulance is YOU! Remember—WE SAVE LIVES!