This time, our interviewee is Hermann Marinó Maggýarson, head of ambulance transport services at the Southern Health Institute (HSU). Hermann started out as a sailor before confirmation, but then, like his grandfather, got into ambulance transport work.

The center of the universe
We first ask Hermann about his background. “I was born in 1977 in Reykjavík, but raised in the center of the universe, Ólafsvík. I went to elementary school in town, but then went to the Reykjavík Industrial School and learned to be a car mechanic."

Started at sea at 12
Hermann's career began unusually early on Snæfellsnes Peninsula. "I started working at sea in the west with my grandfather at 12 and was at sea every summer until I was 18. Then I started working on boats and trucks. I started in ambulances in 1999 and haven't looked back, because I work in the most fun job in the world. I am married to Regína V Reynisdóttir and we have two girls, Hugrún Hadda and Hera Laufey. My hobbies outside of work are basketball and cars. My passion is family."

An ambulance driver like my grandfather
But why did Hermann initially choose this career path, a quarter of a century ago? "I was always excited at a young age to see ambulances, like many people in those years. So when I was asked to operate an ambulance, I quickly said yes. I was raised by my grandparents in Ólafsvík. Grandpa was one of the first ambulance drivers in town, so naturally, I wanted to do the same as Grandpa!”

Alone on an excavator
We ask our man what career he would choose if he could start over. “I would like to be alone on an excavator digging ditches every day!”

Part of a good team
Can you tell us a little more about your job; what does it entail? “My role is multifaceted, but first and foremost I am part of a good team that provides ambulance transport services. I am in charge of ambulance transport services throughout South Iceland. We have offices in Selfoss, Hvolsvöllur, Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Höfn, and the Vestmannaeyjar Islands. We also operate in Þingvellir and have field teams in Flúðir and Öræfi. We have a total of nearly 40 people in ambulances, working 24/7, day shifts, and standby shifts as needed. The district is the largest in terms of area in the country and is therefore staffed by a large group of top-notch professionals. But we need to improve ourselves to increase our responsiveness and the safety of our clients."

Ambulance transport is a team sport
"I am responsible for monitoring the operations and the professional part of our work, but a lot of work goes into various collaborations with other responders. I do not do this all alone, because Chief Warden Þorsteinn Hoffritz is a great strength for me in all of this. I look at the operations here as a team sport. Ambulance transport is a team sport. Everyone has something to offer and the team spirit is always better when people can enjoy themselves. I place great emphasis on people feeling good at work."

Want more ambulances
Is there anything new coming up or on the horizon at work that you'd like to share? "We are always trying to become more professional and better as a team, but we are also constantly fighting for more ambulance men to be able to man more cars! The fact is that HSU is responsible for ambulance transport in an area that spans about 31 thousand square kilometers. In recent years, the demand for ambulances in South Iceland has increased significantly, as well as the tourist flow has multiplied.”

Ambulance transports have increased enormously
“In the last 5 years, the population in the region has increased by 17% and HSU ambulance transports from 2020 to 2023 increased by 43%. To respond to this enormous growth, it is necessary to increase the number of ambulance personnel at HSU and there is a request for this expenditure now for consideration in the Ministry of Health.”