Rescue/Ambulance Units Made From Motor Homes

Rescue/Ambulance Units Made From Motor Homes

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Two 23-foot motor homes have been fitted out as combination rescue trucks and ambulances by the Rocky River, Ohio, Fire Department.

Among other advantages, the GMC motor homes offer about 50 percent more storage space than conventional paramedic units and the cost is less because of conversion work done locally. The Rocky River Fire Department, which is near Cleveland, operates each combination rescue/ambulance with a crew of three.

Work done locally

“We did the work ourselves,” explains Chief Donald R. Chesser. “Rescue 3, the first such vehicle, was purchased as a bare chassis for $18,943. When the inside was completed and equipment put on board, the total expenditure was $38,0(H). Most emergency units of this kind, with equipment, now run about $75,000.

“The cost of Rescue 2 was cheaper yet, even though the chassis cost about $1000 more. That was because we used the telemetry system (about $8000) from a previous rescue van.”

City workers, including carpenters and electricians, transformed the interiors according to specifications drawn up by Chesser and his men. The sensitive systems used in the rescue units also were installed by municipal workmen.

“The entire job was handled by local resources,” says the chief. “If it had been done outside, the work alone would have cost $50,000.”

And what does the community think? Fire fighters got their answer when Rescue 2 appeared at the end of last year’s Memorial Day parade. “People stood and applauded when we went by,” declares a member of the squad.

The Rocky River approach has been a mix of planning, training and innovation. Chesser worked tirelessly to create an advanced life support program. Another element has been the support of Mayor Earl Martin and the city council.

Although many paramedic units operate with two-man squads, Chesser prefers three. “All alarms in our city are answered by a pumper, ladder truck and rescue. The rescue rolls first with an officer and two fire fighters. By the time our other equipment get there the officer has evaluated the situation and the two fire fighters are prepared to fight the fire. Each person carries complete gear, including breathing apparatus, for fire fighting. Our personnel are trained for 100 percent use.

“If it’s an emergency run for a sudden illness or accident, a three-man crew can also be an asset.”

The vehicles are designed for transporting two patients. There are provisions for administering to both patients while moving. Head clearance is 6 feet 3 inches, permitting most squad members to move in an upright position.

Are two such highly specialized vehicles necessary for a city of 23,000? “We’re averaging 1300 ambulance runs a year and frequently have back-to-back calls,” explains Chesser. “Though we have mutual aid agreements with six surrounding communities, it is a long run into our city for most of them. Having a backup unit available has proven to be a definite asset.”

Captain Harold Godfray elaborates, “The back-to-back situation happens a hundred times a year. Sometimes we’ll have a triple run at virtually the same time, which of course necessitates’ use of mutual aid.”

A unique feature of the vehicles is the air bag suspension system for lowering the lifting height when patients are moved in and out. A simple control brings the rear door level to within 10 ½ inches of the ground.

Since the units have front-wheel drive there is no center ridge in the bodies. This provides a lower center of gravity, more stability, and better cornering.

And size is no deterrent to moving in and out of narrow driveways and tight spots. “We can operate on the premise that if a car can go through, we can,” states one of the drivers.

Both units have 130-amp alternators. Rescue 2 has a 6-kw generator, while Rescue 3 has a 4-kw one. Such capacity is needed to power the on-board equipment, such as fire, police, and telemetry radios; air conditioning or heat; emergency and scene lights; medical apparatus, etc.

Design of the interiors is a reflection of the Rocky River department’s ideas gained from on-the-job experience. For example, the first rescue van includes a sink for irrigation of eye injuries and other uses. Since the squad found little use for it, the sink was left out of the second van. Bottled distilled water now is poured into a basin when needed.

The action wall of the second van was improved by installing solid storage cabinet doors which hinge upward. The first unit had sliding Plexiglas doors, which frequently would jam.

“Now you don’t see all the clutter,” comments one fire fighter.

Radio headset

A significant improvement in the second vehicle is a headset for the telemetry radio. On-off controls for the device are via a foot switch which can be placed anywhere on the floor. This allows a squad member use of both hands while working on a patient.

Other features of the second van’s rear area are a folding overhead door and leveling of the floor. Both facilitate movement of patients on stretchers since the door can now be opened in one movement. The first van has double doors and an inclined ramp. Four strobe lights and a rotating beacon supplement side and rear running lights.

Interior lighting includes an adjustable flood/spotlight for work on a patient.

One Rocky River resident was so grateful for the care given a member of his family that he donated expensive medical equipment for one of the vehicles.

“When we were trying to get the city behind the advanced life support program,” comments Chesser, “I said it would be worth while if it saved only one life. Of course, we’ve done better than that, but I remember the first one. It was a woman who had a coronary, and by the time we got her to the hospital, she was clinically dead. We continued working on her with the cardiac people and she survived. She’s alive today and still a resident of our city.”

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