New ambulances offer softer, smoother rides

State of the art ambulances are arriving in Bartholomew County.

Columbus Regional Health has started a six-year transition process to replace conventional ambulances with four-wheel-drive diesel trucks that represent the latest in technology and innovation, CRH Ambulance Service Manager Adam Hoskins said.

Equipped with liquid hydraulic suspension, each truck comes with an on-board processor that automatically changes the spring stiffness and damping at each individual wheel in response to road and driving conditions.

For patients, that means a softer and smoother ride when the road or terrain is rough, as well as more stability when the ambulance makes sharp turns, corners or emergency maneuvers, Hoskins said.

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“That makes moving around in the back a lot simpler as we’re hooking up IVs or monitors,” said Toby McIntyre, a 25-year emergency medical technician and current CRH ambulance coordinator. “It has tremendously helped us to do our job more efficiently.”

The new suspension has been especially helpful during ambulance calls to rustic areas of Brown County, where a number of roads still have rough terrain including creek crossings, McIntyre said.

Each of the new ambulances are also equipped with an electronic coaching system, CRH paramedic Kelsi Elles said.

Much like an electronic co-pilot, the ZOLL Road Safety system measures multiple inputs including speed, braking and G forces on turns, Elles said.

If a driver is applying brakes too harshly, taking turns too severely, or exceeding pre-determined speed limits, audible tones alert the driver to take corrective action, she said.

“For me, personally, just having that system in place puts you in that mindset of being careful and driving smoothly,” Elles said.

Accidents involving emergency vehicles — including fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars — are a substantial problem, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Vehicle fatality rates for emergency responders are estimated to be up to 4.8 times higher than the national average for fatal accidents overall, according to federal statistics.

In addition to the smoother ride, getting a patient in and out of the ambulance won’t be as risky after the hospital invested in power-lift systems. Each has what are called power cots, which allow for the fully automated lift of all patients being transported, Hoskins said.

Besides reducing the fall risk for each patient, power cots also result in less physical strain for emergency personnel, Hoskins said.

Some ambulance crew members who have spent several years moving patients in and out of ambulances have developed painful back problems, Elles said.

The power costs help employees who have been on the job for years, and help prevent younger rescue workers from developing back injuries in the future, Elles said.

The replacement cost for the new ambulances is about $150,000 each, while the older models are valued at about $125,000, CRH spokesman Kelsey DeClue said.

The new ambulances have lower maintenance costs, fewer breakdowns, better fuel economy, longer engine life and four-wheel drive for the extra money, DeClue said.

While medical personnel couldn’t wear seat belts in conventional ambulances, the new models have harness-type devices that provide restraint in the event of an accident, as well as freedom to move around, Elles said.

McIntyre said he is also impressed with the extremely bright LED lights on the ambulance that increase visibility at night.

“If you can’t see this truck coming down the road, you are obviously not paying attention,” McIntyre said.

And finally, there are aesthetics. From McIntyre’s perspective, the new ambulances are more stylish than the old ones, he said.

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The following timetable has been established by Columbus Regional Health for replacing conventional ambulances with new four-wheel-drive diesel trucks featuring state-of-the art technology. The hospital’s ambulance service now operates 12 ambulances.

2018: Three new ambulances are in operation. Two additional vehicles are expected to be acquired by the end of the year. 

2019-2022: CRH anticipates acquiring two new ambulances each year until all conventional ambulances are replaced.  

Source: Adam Hoskins, CRH Ambulance Service manager

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