I had the pleasure to chair a panel on ambulance safety at the “ª#”ŽFDIC2015″¬ Conference on ambulance safety and future innovations and standard changes in the ambulance industry. With me on the panel were: Mike McCart, Deputy Chief Pulaski Co. EMS (Missouri), Fire/EMS Training Consultant, a Paramedic and Deputy Chief for the Pulaski County Ambulance District in Waynesville, Missouri.
McCart’s service was the one for which the new proof of concept “interchangeable” interior ambulance was built by Osage Ambulance.
Tim Schroeder, a professional engineer and the Director of Ambulance Systems at Ferno, the division developing integrated ambulance safety and efficiency technologies. Tim led the Global Product Management Team and served on the Global Strategic Planning Team, the group that helped create the Ferno 2020 Vision. Outside of Ferno, Tim is active in many industry trade organizations: Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) where he is co-chair of the SAE J3043: Ambulance Equipment Mounts and Devices sub-committee. This committee is focused on studying the effects of crash dynamics on ambulance equipment mounts and development of a test practice for ambulance equipment integrity.
Steve Rowland, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) Sales Manager for FERNO, began a career in Fire/EMS in 1986 as a Volunteer Firefighter while working full-time for a municipal EMS provider. He has continued in sales management with Federal Signal, Akron Brass/Weldon, Pierce/Medtec and now is a member of the Ferno EMS Ambulance Systems team. In addition to currently serving on the NFPA-1917 Ambulance Committee, Steve is Chair of the FAMA Ambulance Technical Sub-Committee, is actively participating in the developing CAAS Ground Ambulance Standard, is an EVT Certified Technician
You’ll hear a lot more about this innovative new ambulance interior, so I will just highlight what its most impressive offerings are to me:
Interchangable, crash worthy mounting brackets allow you to place equipment and storage space where you want it.
Like a heavy-duty, safe, LEGO Ambulance, this design will catch on in my humble opinion because it is SO safe, SO practical and SO efficient!
1) Wall mounted, clear front, storage areas (internally separated by magnet mounted pouches) that can double as zip-up kits, specialized as airway, pediatric, trauma specialty bags. They replace oversized cabinets and give you the right amount of equipment in the right amount of space.
2) Fully configurable side walls allow you to position your cardiac monitor, suction, oxygen, computer and other key items where you want them — and move them when you need to.
3) Heavy duty stretcher brackets allow you to quickly add stretchers during disaster and MCI incidents.
4) a rear storage compartment for things you don’t need once care is underway (Extra stretchers, stair chair, case for mechanical CPR device, etc..
5) A compact, 3 lightweight Spiracle oxygen system (weight just 25 lbs) replaces the heavy M Tank AND the system can be easily relocated from the ambulance to an MCI or REHAB location!
