Surface ambulances
Surface ambulances make special CVs.
Surface ambulances make special CVs.
With its siren blazing, a surface ambulance rushes towards the Max Hospital at Saket, Delhi. In it is a patient that collapsed unexpected. The doctor on board the ambulance has hooked him to an advanced life support system the vehicle has been fitted out with. As a special CV, the ambulance — of Force Motors make — has been heavily customised to be a life saving medium. It is termed as a surface ambulance and governed by an ambulance code. A preferred choice of hospitals big and small, it is available in an Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) guise. Based on the Force Traveller platform, the ambulance, standing out because of its sheer versatility, in the ALS guise has a paramedic and an emergency medical technician on board. In the BLS guise, it is sans the equipment as well as the manpower to use needles or make cuts in the skin. It is instead laced with capabilities that provide initial assessment, provide airway maintenance and breathing, and facilitate Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Playing the role of a life saving medium where a delay of even a minute can reduce the chances of survival, according to Vishal Lathwal, Deputy General Manager, Home Healthcare Services, Max Hospitals, an ambulance makes an important special application CV. It does in an environment where the traffic could be chaotic and hinder quick progress. In a scenario like this, mentioned Vishal, skilled pilots ensure that the time taken to transport a patient to the hospital is less than 15 minutes. This is in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation, he said. Providing advanced, state of the art
ambulances to hospitals like Max, Force Motors has invested in an ambulance building facility at its Pithampur plant. The ambulance conversion job is done by Pinnacle Speciality Vehicles in close co-operation with Force Motors. Supplied to hospitals in ready to use condition, the ambulances, complying with the strict guidelines set by the National Ambulance code (AIS125-Part 1), are available as ‘Mobile Clinics’ and ‘Speciality Healthcare Vans’. With a doctor and patients consulting area, these special CVs that also found as ‘general health clinic on wheels’, ‘cardiac health clinic on wheels’, ‘blood collection on wheels’, and as ‘vaccination vans’. Offering ambulances in single and multi-stretcher configuration, and after validation for 10G impact test, Force Motors have priced them in the Rs.45 lakh to Rs.75 lakh price bracket. The BLS vehicle for example, costs approximately Rs.45 lakh. The ALS ambulance, at the other end, costs approximately Rs.75 lakh. Possessing equipment like electrocardiograph, defibrillator and other equipment, the ALS ambulance, according to Vishal, is practically a hospital on wheels.
National Ambulance Code (AIS 125)
To ensure that any vehicle with a patient laid down did not make a scientific ambulance, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) formulated a national ambulance code in June 2013. It set up five working groups on 4Es of Road Safety: Education, Engineering (Vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care on the recommendation of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC). The working group on emergency care in its report observed that the real concept of an ambulance was missing in India. The existing ambulances were more like makeshift transport vehicles without due design incorporation. The need for a uniform code was felt. Research showed that ambulances were more likely to be involved in collisions, resulting in injury or death in comparison to either the fire engines or other service vehicles. With ‘unrestrained’ occupants, particularly those riding in the patient-care compartment said to be particularly vulnerable, the working group came to the conclusion that it was necessary to take care of occupant safety, patient care ergonomics, medical equipment selection and placement among factors like vehicle engineering and integration. The expert committee constituted with the approval of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways formulated the code. The committee initially drafted the standard in-line with the global best practices. Due care was taken to localise the code and align it to meet Indian requirements.
Claimed to be the only company to offer fully built ambulances that comply with the National Ambulance Code, Force Motors classifies them as ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ in accordance to the code. The type ‘B’ road ambulance is designed and equipped to transport patients that are not expected to be in an emergency. The type ‘C’ road ambulance (in BLS guise) is ergonomically designed, suitably equipped and appropriately staffed for the transport and treatment of patients requiring noninvasive airway management and basic monitoring. The type ‘D’ road ambulance (in ALS guise), is ergonomically designed, suitably equipped and appropriately staffed for the transport and treatment of emergency patients requiring invasive airway management and intensive monitoring.
Traveller Ambulance
If the monocoque construction
helps in meeting the standards of total safety and better ride quality, the ambulances that Force Motors offers on the Traveller platform are subjected to cathodic electro-deposition for the primer coat to ensure corrosion resistance and increase reliability. The top coat is applied by robots to enhance the paint quality. Fitted with fans, hooks for intravenous bottles and brackets for oxygen cylinder with adjustable straps, the Traveller-based ambulances come with a factory made stretcher, medicine cabinet, wailing horn and signalling equipment. The ambulance is engineered to ensure a silent ride. It is designed to offer a lower floor height with a 210 mm ground clearance for easy ingress and egress. Offered with a three-year or three lakh kilometre warranty with seven free services, the Travellerbased ambulances could be had with an air-conditioner, ABS, EBD and light bars.
Available in two different wheelbases, the Travellerbased ambulance could be had with a seating configuration of 8+D+patient in the 3050 mm wheelbase guise, and with a 9+D seating configuration and a wheelbase of 3350 mm. The ambulance with 3050 mm wheelbase measures 4935 mm in length, 1975 mm in width and 2550 mm in height.
It has a front overhang of 900 mm and a rear overhang a 985 mm. The ambulance with 3350 mm wheelbase measures 5415 mm in length, 1975 mm in width and 2550 mm in height. Its front overhang is 900 mm and the rear overhang is 1165 mm. Powered by a BSIV compliant, four-cylinder 2.6-litre, commonrail diesel engine, or a BSIV compliant, four-cylinder 2.2-litre, common-rail diesel engine, the ambulance is fitted with semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension all-round. On the longer wheelbase vehicle (of 4020 mm with multi-stretcher arrangement) there’s an option of pneumatic rear suspension as well.
Trauma ambulance
The ‘Trauma’ ambulance on Traveller platform with 8+D+patient configuration comes with features like under seat storage, an independent folding seat for the doctor, a folding stretcher cum trolley, clear lens blinkers and warning lights, a dashboard mounted public address system, space for a defibrillator, ventilator and more. Offering a single stretcher trolley that can be rolled out through sturdy selflocking, 270 degree opening with dual leaf rear doors positioned where the patient is lying, the ambulance is equipped with an oxygen cum air cylinder storage trolley. Flaunting a wheelbase of 3350 mm, the vehicle is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission.
Multi-stretcher ambulance
The ‘multi-stretcher’ ambulance comes with a one-tonne light weight press-
steel body. A monocoque construction, the body is manufactured using robotic automated welding to achieve high quality of build. Claimed to be India’s only factory-built ambulance that can carry four patients along with medical staff (9+D configuration) on a single floor level, the ambulance features pneumatic rear suspension for a pliant ride. Facilitating easy inspection and treatment in transit, the vehicle has a 270 degree rear opening door with low loading and unloading height. Equipped with a tracking and surveillance system, which live streams for safety, the air-conditioned ambulance could be had with equipment like a cardiac monitor, suction pump and a defibrillator as an option.
Had in a wheelbase of 4020 mm, the ambulance measures 6770 mm in length, 2225 mm in width and 2870 mm in height. The ground clearance is 190 mm. Powered by the BSIV, five-cylinder FM 3.2-litre common-rail diesel engine, the vehicle is engineered to offer best in class fuel efficeincy, driveability and reliability.
It is fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox and features disc brakes on all wheels. The rear axle contains two wheel at either end.
ALS Ambulance
The ‘ALS’ ambulance offers roomy interiors. The high roof height offers clear standing height. Aiding ease of movement, the ambulance comes with a factory made stretcher, medicine cabinet, wailing horn and signalling equipment. Air-conditioning, ABS, EBD, and light bars are offered as optional fitments. The BLS variant, at the other end, is had in a 3050 mm and 3350 mm wheelbase configuration. The 3050
mm wheelbase ambulance could be had in an 8+D+P configuration. The 3350 mm wheelbase configuration could be had with a 8+D+P and 12+D+P seating configuration. According to Vishal, the ALS and BLS ambulances supplied to Max Hospital at Gurgaon has been suitably customised to meet their specific needs. Mentioned Jayant Gupta, Assistant General Manager, Ambulance Emergency Services, Max hospital, that they offer intensive training to drivers and paramedics on the critical aspects of operation. Doing this ensures a safe and timely transit. If this unleashes the true potential of such special application CVs, the surface ambulances reflect a change that is set to further enhance their utility value and make them truly versatile for performing life saving tasks. ------------------------------------
With inputs from Ashish Bhatia