EMS VEHICLES & RELATED TECHNOLOGIES

Add a Comment

Comment by James Rodriguez on October 21, 2009 at 10:22pm

Just joined from Southern Maryland. Looking forward to discussions.

Comment by two14gwo on September 9, 2009 at 12:45pm

I can't agree more with Mr. Peters. We need real safety standards that surpass commercial vehicles. Safety is our thing after all. I saw a picture of a unit with a five point harness system installed. The harness seemed as if it could allow for patient treatment by letting out slack. Kinda like a car seat belt. Does anyone have experience using this type of system, and does it work. I always thought it would be a good idea.

Comment by Kevin W. Peters on April 30, 2009 at 3:13pm

I can't speak to any one manufacturer specifically. But we have to remember a few concepts when it comes to an ambulance builder describing their safety standards. The KKK standards are not safety standards their were written as bid specifications. Many items in that list fly in the face, contrary to what we know in vehicle safety desgin. A prime example are crumple zones. Automotive engineers have know that crumple zones effectively distribute energy and direct it away from the vehicle occupants. KKK standards state no tearing or buckling of the box can occur. This eliminates a crumple zone.

Secondly I see many ambulance ads with a another vehicle or tank of water that has been slowly lowered on top of the advertised ambulance. The last time I checked MVC's include a dynamic called Force. Sir Issac Newton explained to the world that Force = Mass x Acceleration.

The ambulance builders address mass. So I guess we can say if a big tank of water or another truck is lowered ever-so-gently onto our ambulance then we will remain safe. PHTLS and ITLS and every other trauma course tells us that Energy = Mass X Velocity squared. So why is it that the ambulance builders seem to ignore this simple and well understood fact.

Finally I just love it when a builder says his ambulance meets all federal safety standards. DUH???? I guess so. The only safety standards that exist are the one that were built in by chassis builder. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration specifically excempts ambulances.
from all of their safety standards.

The death rate for EMS providers in collisions in the United States is conservatively 3 times that of large truck acccidents. Something has to be done and soon. Because as it stands right now. There are more safety standards for a cattle truck than there are for an ambulance.

On May 13 Myself and a delegation of about 30 other professionals in EMS and Ambulance industry will be attending RETTmobil in Fulda Germany. (See my Blog on Connect EMS). Europe is by far more advanced in their safety measures that are applied to EMS and ambulance design. I am looking foreward to see what we in the US are missing.

Comment by Dean Wilkinson on April 21, 2009 at 7:42pm

From Australia, a powered stretcher rated to carry 1200 lbs and a vehicle mounted mechanical device to lift the stretcher in and out of the ambulance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syfLFwCk74&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eettvehicles%2Ecom%2Fnewlinks%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded

Comment by Glenn Young on April 6, 2009 at 1:56pm

The safestest unit I feel on the road today is the Braun ambulance. The owner is all for safety issues. KKK specs states that a ambulance should be able to with stand 34,000 lbs pressure on the roof of the box, Braun standard is 90,000lbs, and that is just for starters. I feel that it is the safest box today, as for chassis that is all up in arms for now, maybe the Dodge.

Comment by jack Baker on March 22, 2009 at 11:40pm

I have a comment:ten years ago I started an organization called EMS White knights:casualty care personnel on motorcycles,We escort charity motorcycle rides and do community events,our motors are equipped with trauma gear and the lead bike is equipped with o/2 and airway managing equip. an aed ,and trauma pack two different sized collars ,and saline soulution.We are usually doing these escorts all summer on sat/sundays .Why don't the heads of some of these ambulance services try an emergency response unit motorcycles.They can get through a traffic jam to a serious accident and start treatment,I know some services are doing this but all should try it.It cuts down on the response times.The vehicle only has to maintain aconstant speed ,and does'nt have to be driven in a reckless manor. We have had some bad bike dumps but we are on the patient in minute or two assessing them and calling for a road unit giving them a acurate up date.We usually have them splinted and ready for the back board when the amb. arrives.To give you an idea as to how busy we are during the summer go to emswhiteknights.ca and click on our last years calenderJB