EMSA, THE PRIMARY EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE in central Oklahoma, including Tulsa and Oklahoma City, outfitted its entire ambulance fleet with the “Howler” sired add-on last November. A year later, they are touting the success of the installations and crediting it with cutting their vehicle accident rate markedly.
From January 1 to October 31, 2008, EMSA had sixteen accidents at intersections while on emergency calls. After upgrading their fleet a year ago, the number of accidents at intersections for the same period (Jan. 1 – Oct. 31) this year was reduced by 50% to eight. During that 10-month span they logged 4.3 million miles on their ambulances.
KOTV reports:
EMSA estimates that the reduction in collisions has saved $80,000 in ambulance repair and replacement costs alone.
“Of course, that’s just damage to our ambulances. It’s not at all unusual for cars that collide with ambulances to be totaled,” says EMSA Fleet Manager Kelly Smith.
The Howlers cost less than $400 each. EMSA and Acadian Ambulance Service in Louisiana were the first ambulance agencies in the nation to outfit their entire fleet with the sirens.
The Oklahoman has this video report:
Related articles:
Firegeezer video report on EMSA’s demonstration of their new installation last year HERE.
Firegeezer video report on the Howler compared to Federal Signal’s similar product, the “Rumbler” HERE.
Also on FireGeezer…
- Another (almost) Stolen Ambulance – October 1, 2012
- Another Stolen Ambulance – December 9, 2012
