Jim McMahon
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Copyright 2007 P.G. Publishing Co.
Pittsburgh, Penn. — The new Baldwin Emergency Medical Services’ ambulance has transported more than 100 patients to local hospitals since being added to the fleet in March.
But, the majority of the thousands of miles logged on the ambulance has resulted from travels to the eastern part of the state and elsewhere for publicity and education.
The road trips are part of an Ambulance Safety Awareness Program sponsored by the Emergency Medical Services Division of the state’s Department of Health, which supplied significant funding for the new state-of-the-art ambulance known as Medic 515, only one of three such ambulances in the country.
“Our commitment is to spread the word about this featured vehicle and share with other emergency medical groups the benefits of its new design,” said Curt Neill, assistant chief of the organization that provides medical services to the approximate 31,000 residents living in Baldwin and Pleasant Hills boroughs.
The service, which has 24 full-time medical personnel and 11 vehicles, including five ambulances, responds to approximately 6,500 calls annually.
As part of a one-year agreement, the vehicle is to be shown in various emergency conferences, expos and events. So far, the ambulance has been in Harrisburg three times, in the EMS and Fire Expo in Pittsburgh earlier this month, and in Annapolis, MD.
Paul Shiring, a paramedic and 14-year member of the service who coordinated the vehicle’s new look, said that new design evolved from a local safety conference in 2005 and addressed ways to improve the overall safety of an ambulance for both patients and emergency personnel.
The ambulance was made by Lifeline Emergency Vehicles of Sumner, Iowa.
Although ambulance officials would not give the cost of the vehicle, they did say it was a substantial increase over the average ambulance price, which ranges from $100,000 to $150,000.
In the body of the ambulance where patients are transported and treated on their way to the hospital, sharp edges have been reduced, more padding has been added, improved seat belts and harnesses have been installed, medical equipment has been located closer to the patient and bench seats have been added.
“We’ve flipped-flopped the back of the truck,” Mr. Shiring said of the new configuration which he said places medical equipment within arm’s reach.
New and improved electronics provide the driver with visual and audio contact with medical personnel in the back.
“We can now be alerted of sudden stops or sharp turns,” Mr. Shiring said.
Another safety feature is the use of brighter colors and designs on the outside of the ambulance to improve its visibility.
“We’ve had a very positive response from our members,” Mr. Shiring said. He noted that the ambulance has received a lot of interest and the service has had calls from Canada and Texas. It was featured in an Italian motor sports article.
“Our goal is to convert all of our ambulances to this style and to continue to improve safety features,” he said.