Emergency Response Capacity Upgraded: Changhua County Fire Bureau Receives Four High-Spec Ambulances from Philanthropic Enterprises

On the morning of the 7th, Changhua County Fire Bureau hosted the 'Love Relay, Protecting Changhua – 2026 Joint Ambulance Donation Ceremony,' with County Magistrate Wang Huei-mei attending to accept donations from various benevolent enterprises and individuals. Magistrate Wang joined donors and distinguished guests in launching the new vehicles.

Magistrate Wang stated that the four high-spec ambulances were donated as follows: one by Maliqiang Generator Co., Ltd., two by Changhua Liuhsin Love & Charity Association, and one by Hsiangsheng Knitting Co., Ltd., with a total value exceeding NT$20.32 million. Notably, Maliqiang Generator had already donated an ambulance in 2023 and has now generously contributed again, placing the new vehicle at the Tianwei Substation. Hsiangsheng Knitting’s founder, Tsai Lo-su-ching, also made another donation. The Changhua Liuhsin Love & Charity Association previously donated two ambulances each in 2019 and 2024, and in 2023 donated a large water tanker truck, bringing their cumulative contributions to NT$31.42 million. Through such proactive social investments, Changhua County’s pre-hospital emergency medical capacity has been further upgraded, demonstrating the warm power of civil society in safeguarding residents’ lives.

Wang explained that the four newly donated ambulances were custom-built according to each substation’s operational needs and will entirely replace aging units within the fire bureau fleet. They will be deployed to Tianwei, Yuanlin, Xihu, and Shengang substations. Each ambulance averages NT$5.08 million in cost and features the latest Batonburg checkered reflective design to enhance nighttime visibility, significantly improving responder safety during dispatches. All units are fully equipped with advanced medical devices, including fully automatic electric stretchers, low-frequency sirens, 12-lead ECG monitors, and automated oxygen resuscitators. As a result, ambulances are no longer merely patient transport vehicles but have become 'mobile emergency rooms' with high-level life-saving capabilities.

Thanks to these advanced technologies, the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in Changhua County has increased from 20.4% in 2019 to 35.17% in 2025. To date, 543 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients have been successfully rescued, saving precious lives and protecting family well-being.

Magistrate Wang highlighted that the fire bureau has long received enthusiastic support from private enterprises, charitable organizations, and compassionate individuals. Over the past three years (2023–2025), a total of 36 ambulances have been donated, valued at NT$135.56 million—9 in 2023, 23 in 2024, and 4 in 2025. She expressed gratitude for these generous acts, which inspire others to take practical action in public welfare, strengthening frontline emergency capacity. This reflects broad societal support for firefighting and rescue work and serves as a crucial foundation for continuously improving pre-hospital emergency care quality in Changhua County.

Changhua Liuhsin Love & Charity Association Chairman Cheng Tso-hsin noted that the association has successively donated four ambulances, two rehabilitation buses, and one fire truck. With the addition of two new ambulances equipped with 'fully automatic electric stretchers,' emergency medical and disaster response capabilities have been enhanced. Going forward, the charity will integrate more social resources and continue investing in public welfare to contribute to local public safety.

Councilor Pei Yu-ju expressed appreciation on behalf of the council, stating, 'We deeply thank all donors. Today, the price of high-spec ambulances continues to rise. Seeing major corporations and kind-hearted individuals step forward with generosity shows that love fills every corner of Changhua. We are truly grateful for this noble act.'

The fire bureau emphasized that fully automatic electric stretchers effectively reduce musculoskeletal strain on rescuers when transporting patients, lowering occupational injury risks while improving patient safety and comfort during entry and exit. Low-frequency sirens effectively alert nearby vehicles and pedestrians to yield early, enhancing ambulance traffic safety and passage efficiency, thereby securing precious golden minutes for patient survival. The bureau expressed deep gratitude to the public, noting that ambulance donations not only improve hardware but carry profound significance in comprehensively elevating pre-hospital emergency care quality.