TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Changhua Magistrate Wang Huei-mei (王惠美) accepted the donation of 13 ambulances valued at NT$48.14 million (US$1.5 million) from private companies and organizations on behalf of the county government.

The county government held a donation ceremony on Tuesday. According to the Changhua Fire Bureau, the county has received a total of 32 ambulances over the past two years, with a combined value of more than NT$100 million, per CNA.

Wang said eight of the donated ambulances are extended-height models and the rest are standard models, with each vehicle costing between NT$3.2 million and NT$3.7 million. All new ambulances feature reflective designs to enhance visibility.

The ambulances are equipped with advanced emergency medical equipment, including AEDs, electrocardiogram machines, and automated oxygen delivery devices, enabling medical staff to provide critical care immediately upon arrival.

Wang noted the county government has expanded its ambulance fleet and upgraded equipment. Over the past five years, 459 people suffering heart attacks were saved, and the survival rate in ambulance responses rose from 20.4% to 33.08%.

Huang Chao-lin (黃昭霖), a donor representative and head of a local temple, said donors were pleased to support the county’s healthcare efforts and hope the ambulances will help save more lives. He added that two of the donors, surnamed Lin (林) and Tseng (曾), have together contributed four ambulances to the county.

In April, the bureau and the National Fire Agency held an ambulance training seminar at Changhua Christian Hospital, where Japanese emergency medical technicians shared emergency care practices and discussed the use of AI in emergency response.

Changhua’s ambulances were dispatched 61,000 times last year, an average of 169 trips per day. As demand continues to rise, the county has promoted the use of AI technology and increased training for more emergency medical technicians.