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AMR and AEV Debut Enhanced '' Next Generation'' Concept AmbulanceNEW ORLEANS --(Business Wire)-- Aug. 24, 2005 -- A one-of-a-kind "next generation" concept ambulance will debut here this week at the nation's largest conference for paramedics and emergency medical technicians. American Medical Response (AMR) and American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) will display their prototype "ambulance of the future" at EMS Expo at the Morial Convention Center this Thursday through Saturday. AMR is America's largest provider of ambulance service and AEV is the country's leading ambulance manufacturer. The two companies jointly developed the concept vehicle as part of research on reducing safety risks in the ambulance industry and providing patients advanced care. The prototype to be displayed here is the second version of the companies' concept ambulance. AMR and AEV introduced the first version of the vehicle last fall. Traveling coast to coast, the two firms showed the original concept ambulance to hundreds of paramedics and EMTs and asked them to give suggestions for a second model. Ron Thackery, Vice President of Professional Services at AMR, said: "This second prototype, Concept Ambulance II, incorporates many ideas that came from frontline emergency medical professionals who saw the first version of the vehicle. Thanks to them, this second design further increases safety and enhances patient care." AMR and AEV representatives will show the vehicle at booth 500 in the EMS Expo vendor hall on Thursday, August 25, noon to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, August 26, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, August 27, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Concept Ambulance II features numerous innovations that protect medics, patients, other motorists and pedestrians from injury. The innovations also help ambulance teams save time in reaching emergency scenes and link easily with hospital personnel. Innovations include: -- improved seating and restraints that allow two medics to treat patients while wearing safety belts (introduced because medics in today's ambulances often must ride unrestrained in order to take care of the patient); -- external cameras and, inside the cab, a video monitor that help medics avoid colliding with another vehicle or other object; -- a device that changes red lights to green at appropriately equipped intersections; -- external lights alerting other motorists that medical treatment is underway on board the vehicle; -- a Road Safety(R) "black box" on-board computer system (similar to aircraft black boxes) that records vehicle speed, monitors the driver's safety behaviors (such as use of turn signals) and warns the driver about maneuvers that exceed pre-set safety parameters; -- highly reflective paint that makes the vehicle more conspicuous; -- cabinets designed to lower the risk of injury for anyone who falls against them; -- In Motion(R) on-board mobile network gateway and GPS tracking; -- Marvlis(R) vehicle routing and mapping systems; and -- wireless medical reporting that saves time, ensures accuracy and protects confidentiality in identifying patients, documenting treatment, and sharing data with hospital staff. American Medical Response (www.amr.net), America's largest provider of medical transportation, is locally operated in 34 states. More than 17,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs and other professionals transport over four million patients nationwide each year in emergency, critical and non-emergency situations. Operating a fleet of approximately 4,000 vehicles, AMR is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo. American Emergency Vehicles (www.aev.com) is one of the nation's largest manufacturers of ambulances and specialty medical transportation vehicles. The company is based in Jefferson, N.C., near Asheville. For photos: http://www.amr/net/news/media/images.asp |
