What’s Your Perspective?

I arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 14 to attend RETTmobil 2013 and was quickly reminded of the cultural nuances in Europe that drive ambulance design.

When the doors opened up to an elevator at the train station, I was staring at a space a little larger than the size of a coat closet. You can stand across from someone, but not shoulder to shoulder unless you really like them. I must say I felt a little claustrophobic.

The next morning at the show, my vision was assaulted by the first uniform company booth. The Europeans have certainly figured out how to make providers stand out at an accident scene, and on top of the red, orange and green, you will see a plethora of reflective tape patterns.
By now you can figure out what the ambulances look like based on the clues I gave you—they are small and brightly colored. There isn’t room in them for a squad bench or second patient. Care has been taken both inside and outside of “the box” to ensure items don’t become projectiles, and even with narrower wheel bases, they don’t tip over.

Someone suggested I tell the U.S. manufacturers to build ambulances like this for the U.S., but that’s not the problem. We don’t have the culture or demand right now to put fleets like this in the field. We Americans like our space, and until we like safety and efficiency more than that, then there is no reason for companies to build them here.

As claustrophobic as I am, after only a few minutes sitting in one of these “undersized” ambulances going through patient treatment movements I realized I liked the idea of not having to get out of my seat on the way back to the hospital. Everything was within reach. I guess it’s all about your perspective and what you’re used to. In fact, as I was standing there looking at a Sprinter van ambulance, I overheard a U.K. paramedic behind me say to one of his mates, “The Sprinter van is great, but it’s just so darn big.” Think about that for minute.