Bariatric amblance service getting plenty of calls
UWCHLAN » As obesity increases in just about every population throughout the world, many emergency service providers are finding a greater demand for a bariatric ambulance in its fleet
— a vehicle that has a larger back interior with specialized equipment appropriately outfitted to accommodate larger-than-average size patients.
When a bariatric emergency arises anywhere in Chester County, Uwchlan Ambulance Corps in Lionville gets summoned to the emergency. Known for its specialty, the ambulance has been requested by other emergency agencies throughout Montgomery, Delaware, and Lancaster counties. Before Uwchlan is dispatched to the scene, the primary ambulance and fire company are already on location determining if the situation warrants a bariatric ambulance.
Inside the back of Uwchlan’s ambulance are specialized equipment able to handle a person who weighs between 300 to 1,000 pounds. For this reason, the interior is larger than an average size ambulance. The equipment consists of moving devices with winch system and a ramp capable of loading and unloading, a loading system, an inflatable mattresses, and inflatable stretcher.
“Our responsibility when we arrive on scene is to assist and transport,” stated John Applegate, chief of operations of Uwchlan Ambulance Corps. “We work along with the other emergency personnel to figure out the best approach to take to make the patient comfortable and keep the crew safe.”
Typically, an ambulance crew spends an average of 20 minutes on scene. But, with a bariatric incident, the time can run twice that amount or even longer. “Each of these emergencies is different, depending upon the weight of the person, where the person is located in the living quarters, and how the person is situated. We can be on-scene anywhere between 45 minutes and two hours.”
Of the 3,400 medical emergencies and vehicle accident calls that Uwchlan ambulance responds to yearly, 20 percent are bariatric. Though these calls are infrequent, ambulance personnel need special training for this type of emergency. One of Uwchlan’s members is a bariatric trainer who schools the members on how to use the specialized equipment, the proper steps to load and unload the patient, and the way to communicate with the patient with dignity and respect.