Are motorcycle ambulances used in any country? I am thinking that due to traffic, a paramedic on a specially equipped motorcycle would get to the victim much faster, and be able to stabilize him until the ambulance actually arrived.
In my country, ambulances have rotating lights and a siren that signals to other motorists to pull over and let them pass.
In San Juan there are some motorcycle EMTs on 1st-responder duty. They are not the universal norm, but we do have them. The bike has saddlebags and a “boot” (where the rear rider would normally sit) filled with EMS kit.
How about a fire motorcycle
Well that’s a relief. They can put out the burning victim until the ambulance arrives.
Hehehe. You’ve not seen many Houston traffic jams, then, I take it. Four lanes of parked cars, plus a random disabled vehicle or two in the emergency lane, and ain’t no ambulance on earth is gonna get through.
Actually sounds like a good idea to me.
The ‘First Responder’ could then call in a chopper if the case was to critical to wait for the ambulance to fight it’s way in.
I will never live in a megalopolis again and I have a 5000 foot runway within 2 miles of the house…
YMMV
The Ambulance Service of New South Wales has operated motorcycles for the last five years or so here in Sydney. For certain types of casualties and locations (usually downtown), a motorcycle paramedic and a traditional ambulance are despatched at the same time. When this was introduced, the example given was a cardiac arrest on Wynyard Ramp - Wynyard is a busy subway station which, rather than escalators or stairs leading to street level, has a long, downhill shopping arcade leading to it. I think it must have been a success as the bikes are still used.
They have them in the UK.
Nor DC traffic jams. Lots of problems here with people ignoring emergency vehicles.
Heh, I love the fire department in College Station. One of the major roads in town, Texas Avenue, has horrible traffic (they’ve got crews out there expanding the road, which for the time being just means the traffic’s even worse since they block off part of the road to do their work). One day there’s a firetruck going down Texas Avenue towards University Drive (the other major road in College Station) apparantly with the intent of turning right. The problem is that all of the lanes at this point are stopped up with traffic at the red light. What does the Firetruck do? It switches onto the other side of the road when it gets to a break in the median, proceeds to the corner, and turns right.
Very cool and amusing to watch.