Introduction
A vehicle that transports patients to hospital departments on behalf of the health sector is called an ambulance. This medically deployed vehicle responds to medical emergencies and is responsible for pre-hospital procedures. For example, first aid, critical illness/injury stabilization, transportation of patients to definitive care, etc. There are many types of ambulances. There are car/van ambulances, motorcycle ambulances, helicopter/ship ambulances, and fire ambulances.
Principles of traffic of an ambulance.
Ambulances are expected to reach patients or the site on time. Few traffic rules are modified so that ambulances reach patients faster; they are allowed to jump red signs or the ‘stop’ board and correct speed limits.
The public needs to identify an ambulance on the road. Traffic must yield to the ambulance and allow it to reach its destination faster. Therefore, ambulances come with few visual and audible cues. Ambulances often have stickers indicating their services. They have visual and sound passive warnings. Ambulances have high-contrast color designs and retro-reflective decals. They also include stickers that say ambulance in the local language. These stickers are attached to the ambulance so that they reverse the vehicle and appear correctly in reflections.
tools in an ambulance
Ambulances exclude the basic tools to control a critical condition. There are several first aid tools, some monitors and other necessary things.
1. First aid kit (includes stethoscope, oxygen cylinder, IV set)
2. BP apparatus (Digital BP machine, Mercury BP machine)
3. Suction unit
4. Thermometers and Glucometers
5. All kinds of scissors
6. All kinds of forceps.
7. Stainless steel sinks and bowls (medium and large), etc.
In addition to technical equipment, an ambulance requires machinery to extend patient care. Therefore, machines like:
1. CCTV camera: which collects evidence inside/outside an ambulance. In the event of any violation of the law by patients or staff, these footages are used.
2. Tail lift/ramp: The ramp is used to load or unload the patient from the ambulance.
3. Two-Way Radio – This radio allows the crew to report the condition and pass information to the hospital to better understand the situation.
4. Monitors: to check the activity and status of the human body, etc.
types of ambulances
There are four types of ambulances:
1. BLS (Basic Life Support): These are the ones we see regularly. They are used for patients with non-serious illnesses or injuries, such as small fractures, loss of consciousness, etc. These ambulances are equipped with wheelchairs, beds, self-loading stretchers, oxygen supply devices, etc.
2. ALS (Advanced Life Support): Used for cardiac or severely injured patients. These ambulances have advanced machinery like ventilators, ECG monitor, blood drawing tools, defibrillator, etc. These ambulances also have a trained staff that can support the requirements of the patient.
3. Patient Transport Vehicles: – Used to transport a patient from one healthcare facility to another, including hospitals and testing centers. These have a bed and other primary life support equipment.
4. Mortuary: – They are used only for the transport of corpses. These are also called Hearse vans. These have a freezer box and trained personnel to take care of the safe transportation of the body.
