Last November, voters approved $1.8 million funding for the Elizabeth Fire District, which included money to replace 2 of the District's 3 aging ambulances. All of the existing vehicles all had very high mileage - most were over 100,000 miles - and were in need of constant repair and maintenance. Before placing an order for the 2 vehicles, the Elizabeth Fire District succeeded in getting a grant from Colorado EMT, funded by license plate revenue, for a third ambulance to round-out the fleet. A comprehensive bid process took place to find a builder who could not only deliver vehicles to the specifications the team needed, but also within a time frame they were looking for and at the right price. Orders were then placed for state-of-the-art vehicles with the winning bidder - Wheeled Coach, an ambulance builder based in Orlando Florida.
The new vehicles are built on 2010 Dodge chassis and are fitted with the latest safety equipment for the patients being transported as well for the crew. Safety for the ambulance crew perhaps isn't something that many civilians think about, but in 2008 across the U.S., 118 Fire Fighters died while on duty with 25% of those deaths from accidents while traveling to or from the emergency scene (statistics from the US Fire Administration). In September 2005, the Elizabeth Fire District had its own experience with accidents in emergency vehicles, fortunately no one was killed.
The safety features on the 3 new vehicles include high visibility decals on the rear of the vehicle and new high visibility lights, a special car seat location for infants being transported, improved storage locations so that heavy equipment doesn't come loose while the vehicle is moving, and seat belts for the crew while on the move (see slide show). One of the vehicles is also fitted with a "black box", similar to the device on an airplane. The black box will not only provide valuable information in the event of an accident but will also give regular information about how the ambulance is being driven. The information will be used to improve training for the ambulance crew.
You can check out one of the new ambulances yourself at several upcoming events, but be sure to have your sunglasses handy - the high visibility features make them very bright!
Saturday April 17th 7-10am at the Elizabeth Fire House Pancake Breakfast
Saturday April 24th - 10am to 1pm at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa for the "Children's Festival"
Saturday May 8th at 10am at the Summer Safety Fair and Bicycle Rodeo, Wal-Mart parking lot.
Check out the Elbert County Events Calendar for more information and details.
Comments
Very cool!
COOL! Did you get to get inside to take the photo's yourself?
We took a group of preschoolers to visit our firehouse ambulances once--we had to get about a half block away before they'd set off the sirens!
My son will love this slideshow!
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