Why do we need an AmbuBus?
Although you may have mutual aid agreements with ambulance providers in other communities when your ambulance pool is depleted, among the reasons a permanently installed AmbuBus should be an essential part of any community’s disaster plan include:
TIME TO RESPOND – It takes time for ambulances outside your jurisdiction to travel to the location where they are needed. Their drivers are not familiar with the traffic patterns in your area and may not pick the fastest route
AVAILABILITY – Large scale events such as hurricanes may deplete the pool of available ambulances across an entire region
COST – Using private ambulance companies can be prohibitively expensive during large scale events. A single AmbuBus can carry as many patients as 18 single patient ambulances
Shouldn’t we buy a fully equipped Medical Ambulance Bus (MAB) so we can treat critically injured patients on the scene?
No. Critically injured patients should be transported by available ambulances since it takes time to load 12 0r more patients into either a Medical Ambulance Bus or an AmbuBus which can delay treatment.
A fully equipped Medical Ambulance Bus costs between $500,000 and $1,000,000. You can buy up to twenty AmbuBus conversion kits for what it would cost you for a MAB.
In addition, the AmbuBus can be adapted to handle wheelchair bound patients and used for responder rehab while most MABs can only carry supine passengers.
Are there grants available to provide funding for an AmbuBus?
Yes. Many jurisdictions use Department of Homeland Security and/or Firefighter assistance grants to fund the purchase of an AmbuBus and stretchers and accessories. Other communities have used Opioid Grant funding by linking the need for an AmbuBus to handling mass overdoses at concerts and other events.
We can get the grant money for the purchase of the AmbuBus kit but how can we afford to purchase the bus itself?
Many communities have purchased an end-of-life school bus from their local school district for as little as one dollar. They spend a little money to have the bus reconditioned and then install the AmbuBus conversion kit.
Other communities have formed alliances where a local hospital will fund the purchase of AmbuStretchers, bedding, an AmbuRamp, an AmbuCarrier and other accessories such as lighting and air-conditioning.
We might only use the AmbuBus for hurricane evacuations or mass casualty incidents once every few years. How can we justify this purchase?
Many communities find they use their AmbuBus on a weekly basis for situations like:
- Concerts, sporting events and other events where there are large crowds of people.
- Responder rehab or sleeping facilities such as at major fires or wildfires
- Rehab for road construction crews on hot days
- The AmbuBus kit can be set up in a school, tent, or even a shipping container for short-term victim shelter and sleeping facilities.
- Pandemic quarantine
How many frames are in an AmbuBus kit?
Two frames are in each kit. Each frame can hold up to nine stretchers. Custom AmbuBus kit packages are available.
What is the fame made of?
The frame is made of structural steel that is zinc and powder-coated.
What type of stretchers can I use with the AmbuBus?
The AmbuBus accepts First Line Technology’s AmbuStretcher and most standard NATO stretchers used by the US Military and first responders which have a 1.5” diameter handle.
How many patients can I transport using the AmbuBus kit?
Most standard school buses can be retrofitted with one AmbuBus kit (2 frames) to transport 12 non-ambulatory patients. This installation configuration allows for some seats to remain on the bus to allow for medical personnel to travel with the patients. An alternative solution is to remove all of the seats and install 1 ½ AmbuBus kits (3 frames) for the ability to transport up to 18 patients. The limitation in the number of patients is based on space available between patients when stretchers are installed.
How much time does it take to install the AmbuBus kit?
Once the seats are removed from the bus, it takes two persons two hours to install the two frames of the AmbuBus kit.
Do the seats have to be removed from the bus to install the AmbuBus kit?
No, the AmbuBus kit can be installed over the seats inside of school and other bus types. However, this limits the ability to transport a greater number of patients. Depending on the height of the bus, there may be only one or two shelves of litters.
What are the dimensions of an AmbuBus storage crate?
Width: 72”
Depth: 32”
Height: 31”
What is the weight of an AmbuBus Kit (with storage crate)?
840 Lbs.
What maintenance is required for the AmbuBus kit?
The AmbuBus kit has no moving parts and is designed for long-term storage and shelf-life. A yearly kit inspection and parts inventory of the AmbuBus kit should be performed. All the moving parts should be lubricated if the lubricant has dried out. The attached nuts and bolts should be lubricated and checked to make sure they are not missing from the AmbuBus frame components.
There seems to be a lot of extra parts inside the AmbuBus kit. Why?
The standard AmbuBus kit comes with extra parts to allow the kit to be assembled in a variety of transport vehicles (i.e. school bus, transit bus) without modifying the vehicle. During an install of the AmbuBus, you may end up with extra parts that are not used in the installation.
Can the AmbuBus be used outside of a transport vehicle?
Yes. The AmbuBus can be setup in a sleeping bunk configuration for responders and evacuees, in medical tents for casualties, etc.
What training is necessary to assemble the AmbuBus kit?
None. No formal professional training is necessary for the installation of the AmbuBus, however First Line Technology does provide a fee-based training seminar either at the customers location or at First Line’s training facility. Please contact First Line Technology for more information. On a yearly basis, installers should review the instruction manual provided with the AmbuBus. Please contact First Line for yearly training and exercise contracts.
Is it necessary to drill holes into the bus or vehicle to install the AmbuBus frame?
No. The AmbuBus frames have pressure fittings that allow installation without drilling any holes. This ensures that the vehicle can be returned to its original use without damage
Is the AmbuBus kit reusable?
Yes. The AmbuBus can be disassembled and put back into storage for multiple uses. The bus or vehicle that is used can also be converted back to its original purpose. The zinc coated structural steel frame is easily decontaminated.
Contact
First Line Technology HQ
487 Lendall Ln,
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
____________________
703.955.7510 [Phone]
844.955.7510 [Toll Free]
703.955.7540 [Fax]
info@firstlinetech.com
