An article in the Chicago Tribune introduces the new CFD (Medical Ambulance Bus) 8-8-12 to the city.
A bus-sized ambulance that allows treatment of 13 patients at a time was unveiled today by the Chicago Fire Department, along with new heart monitors for all fire ambulances.
A custom-built CFD EMS patient transport bus was purchased with about $500,000 grant funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing emergency treatment and transport for 13 patients, according to a CFD news release.
It has an onboard staff of four and is equipped with Automatic External Defibrillators and pulmonary support equipment including oxygen and emergency care drugs.
“The Chicago Fire Department’s EMS patient transport bus is the first of its kind in Illinois and will be used for any incident where multiple patient transports can be consolidated for delivery of more efficient care and resource management,” said Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago.
The CFD also announced 12-Lead ECG monitors are now in all advanced life support ambulances, which will allow paramedics to more quickly diagnose heart attacks.
“With the 12-Lead ECG monitors in place in all of the CFD’s 60 ALS ambulances, we have upgraded to the most advanced mobile cardiac diagnostic tool currently available for heart attack patients,” Santiago said in the release.
The complete article is HERE.
thanks Ron
#1 by NJ on July 9, 2013 - 9:32 AM
They did deploy this unit at the Blackhawks rally.
#2 by nate on July 9, 2013 - 1:37 AM
Waste of money rahm should lower taxes if he goin to buy vehicles like this for sho
#3 by Brian on July 8, 2013 - 10:12 PM
San Francisco put two and possibly three buses similar to this rig on scene of the plane crash the other day.
#4 by Jacob on July 8, 2013 - 2:53 PM
You will be surprised on what this bus can be utilized for if used properly. We run 2 of them in the City im in. Plus a support vehicle. We haev capabilities of transporting 18 per bus and have done so. Its a great resource to have for either transporting 18 lower priority patients or using as a triage area or using as a rehab set up. Its a newer concept and its being proven. There are so far 11 in the State of North Carolina and all 11 have been proven to be useful.
#5 by Marco on June 25, 2012 - 7:00 PM
Then I question the money that was wasted on it.
#6 by Jacob on June 25, 2012 - 2:45 PM
How’s it going to fit there? it is a full house already. Are they moving 5-1-1A out?
#7 by Dennis on June 25, 2012 - 6:15 AM
… Just finished up the training on 8-8-12, and like I said it will be for triage only, it does have the ability to transport 13 pts but it will NOT be used for that.
It is quartered at Engine 60’s house and will be cross-staffed by either Engine 60 or Tower 37. If for some reason either company can not staff it, then Truck 16 will come get it.
#8 by David on June 19, 2012 - 2:47 AM
Here’s a coupla good photos of the rig (hope the links will work):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbernero/7373135000/sizes/l/in/pool-1593836@N23/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilfirephotos/7396712262/in/pool-fire_vans_buses/
#9 by chris on June 18, 2012 - 10:33 PM
i bet the thing gets used once maybe twice a year if that ,square wheels
#10 by DMc on June 18, 2012 - 4:02 PM
I don’t know of many hospitals that could handle 13 patients arriving in/on a single transport vehicle. Yes, I realize they would mostly or all be categorized as “green”, but if you’ve been to any Chicagoland ERs lately, you would know that all it takes is 3-4 ambulances closely together bringing in their single patients to gum up the works, let alone bring in 13 all at once. I’ve had to wait with single category “yellow” patients while ER staff frees up a bed or sets up a cot in the hallway. 13 transports at once? I would bet it’s not going to be up to the CFD to determine that but the area receiving hospitals.
#11 by M. Johnson on June 18, 2012 - 12:27 AM
Which makes a lot of sense. These types of busses aren’t designed to transport a bus load of critical patients. It’s meant allow mass transport of green (sometimes yellow) patients, as to not tie up an extreme number of ambulances. I fully agree this has NO business transporting red patients….or unstable patients, whatsoever.
#12 by Dennis on June 17, 2012 - 7:34 PM
We will see what happenes when we go down to the academy for training on it. The EMS system for Chicago does state that only 1 ALS ambulance may transport 1 red pt.
#13 by M. Johnson on June 17, 2012 - 5:28 PM
Not a CFD guy, but nowhere is “triage” mentioned from any of the CFD releases about it. All the other ones I’ve seen utilized in other cities/states have been used for transport. If all you were looking to do was triage/treat on scene, you’d just need to have a MCI trailer/apparatus, as most departments do already.
#14 by Bill S on June 17, 2012 - 5:19 PM
Certainly it can be used for both, as was written. Just wanted to clear up how I understood the commissioner’s quote.
#15 by john on June 17, 2012 - 4:06 PM
“A custom-built CFD EMS patient transport bus was purchased with about $500,000 grant funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing emergency treatment and transport for 13 patients, according to a CFD news release.”
Assuming the information is accurate as written, I’m not sure how much more clear it could be that this unit is both equipped to traige/treat AND transport patients–as necessary.
#16 by Bill S on June 17, 2012 - 2:37 PM
Although the paper says 13 patients can be transported that’s not necessarily what the commissoner said. I took the quote as meaning it will be used as a place to consolidate transports and “deliver better care” while better managing resources. Delivery and transport of patients was not specifically said. Seems like it will be a triage/care center while the ambulances will do the moving.
#17 by Kevin K on June 17, 2012 - 1:18 AM
Hmmmm Dennis….I’ll believe a quote by your commissioner……..
#18 by Dennis on June 16, 2012 - 5:54 PM
Hmmm….Kevin K. Things change like anything else..hmmmmm fyi dont believe everything you read in the papers
#19 by Kevin K. on June 16, 2012 - 4:47 PM
“….will be used for any incident where multiple patient transports can be consolidated for delivery of more efficient care and resource management….”
Hmmmm….Dennis, what was that about it not being used for transports?