Aquatic Ambulances

In Venice, the water ambulance system operated by Venezia Emergenza (SUEM) utilizes around four dedicated hydro-ambulances—motorized boats equipped with full Advanced Life Support (ALS) capabilities—for navigating the city’s labyrinthine canals.

Each boat typically carries a crew including an emergency care nurse, two medical care technicians, and a boat pilot; for critical “code red” calls, an emergency physician also joins the response.

These ambulances are outfitted with oxygen, defibrillators, ECG monitors, telemedicine tools, and operate 24/7, offering rapid, canal-accessible emergency care that often rivals or surpasses traditional ground response times in similarly dense urban areas.