28 APRIL 2016 | EMSWORLD.com
"Fundamentally it's about making sure
medics can stay safely seated and restrained
while delivering care," says Socha. "To do
that we need to create an environment
where medics do not have to get up and
reach around for their supplies. So the
track environment, with the modular com-
ponents, allows us to bring everything to
where the medic and patient are."
Several ambulance companies are doing
builds with the iN∫TRAXX, and wheels are
already on the road in select locations. Mis-
souri's Pulaski County Ambulance District
has had a beta version in an Osage Ambu-
lances truck since last year.
3
(That ambu-
lance, on a Sprinter chassis, also eliminated
the bench seat.) And Crestline used it in
its new ICON 2.0 next-generation ambu-
lance developed for Ontario's Frontenac
Paramedic Services. A 90-day beta trial
recently concluded there.
4
The ICON 2.0
uses the new Ford Transit cutaway chas-
sis and incorporates the iN∫X, iN∫TRAXX
and associated SAFEPAKs, as well as Ferno's
AceTech vehicle intelligence system.
The Transit is not yet ready for mass
production, but "there are good signs that
it's going to be a platform, once they do
some changes to the weight capacity, that
will be a good selection in the future," says
Sawatsky. The iN∫TRAXX provides f lex-
ibility and ergonomics, he notes, and "in a
nice, smaller envelope."
New Ideas
Those are just a few aspects of what seems
to be a growing, maturing safety culture
in the world of EMS. "The idea that 'we've
never done it that way before,'" Rowland
wrote, "will soon be a call to embrace new
ideas rather than reject them." With a solid
evidence base, of course.
Future directions likely include further
digitization of the ambulance, enhancing
connectivity with partners and facilitating
fleet and inventory management.
"We believe the ambulance of the future
will transition from a connected vehicle to a
smart vehicle utilizing new technology and
systems," says Lafortune, who urges buy-
ers to consider AVL technologies as part
of all new vehicle purchases. "These new
systems will provide proactive feedback to
f leet managers, EMS directors and para-
medics to improve efficiency, safety and
overall operations."
"From behind your desk you'll be look -
ing at your monitor and seeing your entire
f leet," says Sawatsky. "You'll know what
needs to be maintained, where it's at, if
there's a cycle or unit coming up that needs
to be serviced, and you can see that all at
your fingertips in real time. That's a power-
ful tool to put information in your hands at
any given moment."
— EMS World Staff
R E F E R E N C E S
1. www.nasemso.org/Projects/AgencyAndVehicleLicensure/
documents/KKK-A-1822F-change-notice8-01July2015-FINAL.
pdf.
2. www.fama.org/forum_articles/staying-compliant-in-the-
evolving-world-of-ambulances/.
3. Sagarra S. New Ambulance Design Aims To Improve Safety,
Ef fciency. www.emsworld.com/article/12061525.
4. http://crestlinecoach.com/company/news/news10281501.aspx.
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