The Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project has purchased 78 four-wheel-drive vehicles to reach inaccessible areas in the state.
A prototype of the four-wheel-drive ambulances, which will be introduced in hilly areas and tribal regions across the State, is undergoing final touches in the city.
Though the colour of the ambulances is yet to be decided, officials have ruled out white as it is known to attract animals, particularly elephants.
The Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project has purchased 78 four-wheel-drive vehicles to reach inaccessible areas in Tamil Nadu. These vehicles, which will be part of the 108 ambulance network, can ply on any terrain.
Officials of GVK-Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) that has developed an indigenous design to convert the commercial vehicle into an ambulance said the vehicle has undergone minor modifications to accommodate a wheelchair, and will consist of a collapsible stretcher and spine board.
“The vehicle arrived here two days ago. The fabrication work, including the interiors of the ambulance, is almost over. We are ensuring this smaller ambulance has all the facilities of a regular one, so if a patient needs to be transferred, it can be done seamlessly,” said M. Selvakumar, head of operations, GVK-EMRI.
To enable easy loading of a stretcher into the ambulance, a structure-loading platform has been introduced.
“Installing an airconditioner was a major challenge due to space constraint. We have made provisions to load two oxygen cylinders in the ambulance,” he said.
Other features of the ambulance include floodlights and blinkers on three sides and a revolving siren. The work on the prototype is nearing completion and will be evaluated soon. Once five to six vehicles undergo fabrication, they will be put on trial run in places such as Ooty to ascertain the need for any modifications.
“In the future, we can also modify these smaller ambulances to fit them with advanced life-support systems such as defibrillators and ventilators,” said B. Prabhudoss, head of marketing and hospital relations of GVK-EMRI.
All-terrain ambulance in the making - The Hindu