Tools of the Trade

While there are ambulance crews all over the world, the sophistication of their vehicles and medical equipment can vary. An ambulance in a third world country may carry little more than a stretcher and oxygen cylinder, whereas developed countries are privileged enough to have emergency vehicles capable of providing advanced life support (IV and drugs) to critically ill or injured persons.

Thus, at the scene of a serious car accident, for example, paramedics carry electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring equipment, pacemakers, drugs, advanced airway care equipment and other items. Incidentally, according to the World Health Organisation, by the year 2020 it is expected that road traffic crashes will be the third highest cause of global deaths, jumping from its current ranking of ninth.

As if treating patients whose lives are in the balance isn't stressful enough, ambulance crews also often have to compete with heavy traffic congestion. The Opticom traffic signal control system, which is now fitted in some US ambulances, is perfect for speeding up their journeys in busy urban environments. When a crew is en route to an emergency incident, Opticom sends a coded signal that turns traffic lights green, allowing fast and safe passage. In places where terrain is unsuitable for ambulance access, helicopter training has enabled paramedics to rescue people from water and mountainous, wooded or inaccessible areas.