LCAD adds 2 new ambulances to fleet New ambulances are more efficient and cost effective, new siren and horns will penetrate more of today's soundproof vehicles.
Did you notice anything different about a couple of the ambulances in the Lincoln County Ambulance District (LCAD) lately? If you did, you were very observant-and absolutely correct! LCAD is in bigger ambulances now. They are excited to announce that they have
purchased and placed into service two Chevrolet 4500 Series ambulances.
"Medic-1" and "Medic-2" are medium-duty trucks that will hopefully be more reliable than the current ambulances in use, which are on a van frame, according to LCAD Public Relations Officer Greg Maddock.
"This vehicle has historically handled more miles and been more durable, as well," said Maddock. "This also gives us the option to re-mount the ambulance box (in the patient care area)," he said.
Maddock said that according to JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services), the Ford Motor Company announced February 7, 2007, that it will no longer be making the E-Series diesel vans and cutaways. This is the model that LCAD has been using.
Further, as of January 1, 2007 new federal emissions forced Ford to switch from a 6.0 litre to a 6.4 litre diesel engine; LCAD has been using the the 6.0 litre. "This will not fit into the current box we have, therefore re-mounting would not be an option," Maddock said. "We could have gone with the Ford F-Series (truck front), however they are having recall and maintenance issues with that model," said Jim Holloway, LCAD Chief of Operations. "The five ambulances that the district currently uses have had several maintenance issues-all have had significant items repaired or replaced," Holloway said.
They said that most ambulance services are going to have to find alternatives and switch their entire fleet of ambulances. "We are very excited we are in front of this problem," Maddock said. "We knew this was becoming, and was going to be, an issue. This is why we changed to a new make and type of ambulances. "The yellow stripes and star of lifes are painted on, reflective striping and letters. It'll also have state-of-the-art warning and flashing LED lights, siren, and air horn." The new sound system will be extremely important when the ambulances are in service.
"With the soundproofing that most vehicles have today," Maddock has said, "a lot of times drivers simply can't hear us and then won't pull over to safety when we are needing to pass." The new siren and horn are loud enough to penetrate through most of today's vehicle's "noise reduction" rides. The new ambulances also feature a "jake brake". A "jake brake" is an add-on engine brake for diesels that use a form of compression to help slow down large weighted vehicles before the regular brakes are applied and kick-in.
This "Jacob"system is extremely efficient and cost saving because it saves much wear and tear on braking systems, greatly extending the life of the braking system. Maddock said that anyone is welcome to come up and see the new ambulances and tour the facilities, including the new base in Elsberry.
For information or to schedule a tour, perhaps for your group, or maybe you'd like an ambulance for a special event: please call 636-528-8488, ext. 200. -Combined use of submitted story by Greg Maddock, Public Relations Officer, LCAD and Staff Reporter Robyn Flack by Robyn Flack, staff reporter. Courtesy of Lincoln County Journal.