Our vehicles SUCK (fuel) and BLOW (pollutants)

Noisy, fuel inefficient, carcinogenic, promote injuries, toxic....etc.

Our vehicles are brutal. Don't get me going...way too late, I'm on a tear. Let me start with the blatantly obvious: Whoever came up with the idea of using cube trucks as ambulances should be tarred and feathered. It's a given that every vehicle is going to be a compromise in one way or another, but the compromises in these vehicles are equivalent to withholding oxygen from a cardiac patient so you don't have to change the tank afterwards. Criminal.

I work NEA so I'm stuck with these vehicles almost every shift. I think discussing the problem is almost redundant as we all know what they are so I"ll try and be brief:

*Vinyl, plastics, particle board, all off gas toxic fumes.
*Diesel fumes are carcinogenic
*lack of air cushioned suspension or proper hydraulic seat suspension as you'd find on a truck promote spinal injury and gives NO consideration to patients, particularly the elderly, or those with possible spinal injury for example.
*interior noise levels may be close to a level to cause permanent hearing damage from engine and or siren

That's a start. I won't even mention safety issues all over the place with unsecured or improperly secured oxygen tanks and equipment. Okay, I just did mention it. Fair enough.

Let's see, last time I checked it was 2007. Hmmm. We put communications equipment into orbit in the 50's and a man on the moon in the 60's. The silicon age came to peoples homes 20 years ago with personal computers. But EMS is still in the dark ages with our godawful trucks.

Of course there are the gas vehicles. Somehow it was determined that the lift into the back was a non-issue despite the concerns raised by paramedics. Every once in a while I get on one of these vehicles, and granted, they are quieter and more comfortable, but that lift is a blatant health and safety issue. We've been told it's a dead issue. They found the right person to sign off on this that it was safe. Well, some issues are worth bringing back from the dead. I'm about 5' 9" and that's a tough lift. What are people doing who are 5' 4". Oh yea, they're all on light duties or are management now. Last time I checked, we had a union that had access to legal counsel. It's only a dead issue if we let it die at the expense of our health.

My point in bringing this up is to point out the need to look at vehicles and address some of the environmental concerns that have been raised (not to mention health and safety...oh yeah, I did mention that too). The next procurement of vehicles should be done transparently with input from the field: from the poor bastards that have to work on these things. Maybe we could look at something that is relatively non-polluting, non-toxic, and quiet and incorporates some of the technologies post 1965.


DIESEL EXHAUST - DELAYED OR OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS: Cancer: Prolonged or repeated exposure to exhaust gasses produced from engines burning this material may cause cancer. Whole diesel engine exhaust has been classified as a Group 2A carcinogen (probably carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Diesel exhaust particulate has been classified as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen in the National Toxicology Program's Ninth Report on Carcinogens. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended that whole diesel exhaust be regarded as potentially causing cancer. Diesel engine exhaust is known to the State of California to cause cancer. Contains naphthalene, which has been classified as a Group 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Risk depends on duration and level of exposure.Target Organs: No data.