EXCLUSIVES

A First Responder's Guide to Ebola

EMS Motorcycles, Cot Lifts and Historic Ambulances at Interschutz 2015

Total six-day attendance was around 157,000 visitors

Fri, Jun 19, 2015

By Daniel Mack, NREMT P & William Doss, EMT P

This year’s Interschutz proved to be a record breaking event. Approximately 1,500 exhibitors from 51 nations were present at the show in Hanover, Germany—the world’s largest fire, rescue and EMS exposition. The total attendance over the six-day period was around 157,000 visitors from all over the world. Granted, many of those visitors were present multiple days and therefore this does not reflect the number of individual attendees, but trust me, the daily crowds were huge.

So as Interschutz comes to an end, so do our reports. We hope you have been enjoying some of the highlights of the show related to EMS response. In this final report, we’re going to look at some odds-and-ends on display, and provide you with a gallery of various photos for your enjoyment.

Most of us are proud of our EMS history. Relatively few are left that remember making runs in Cadillac ambulances (I don’t consider myself old, but I do remember in my teenage years making a run in a Caddy). Nevertheless, who among us doesn’t appreciate a restored vintage ambulance? (We all know AJ does!) The same is true of our fellow EMS professionals in Europe. So it was interesting to see a variety of vintage ambulances, restored back to their original glory, on display throughout the various exhibit halls. One notable aspect is that these older ambulances wear the traditional “krankenwagen cream” paint scheme, a far cry from today’s variety of neon colors worn by German and other European ambulances.

It’s also interesting to see the way ambulance interiors in Europe have evolved. One ambulance from 1972 was like the “missing link” between vintage and modern. It featured a more spacious interior and the first attempts at including the now common array of drawers and cabinets toward the front of the patient compartment. And it gave a clear indication that modern technology would be an integral part of future European ambulances as it carried a Thumper and an early ECG machine!

One other feature of European ambulances that jumps out at U.S. visitors is the variety of different types of cot lifts and mounting pedestals. European ambulances almost always have a carrier that secures the cot and that allows it to be placed at various heights or angles during transport to make it easier for EMS personnel to treat the patient while enroute to the hospital. These carriers typically also allow for easier loading and unloading of the cot, whether it be a manually operate cot or power cot. One ambulance even had a power lift designed to load and then secure a stair chair into the ambulance.

And speaking of EMS vehicles, nowhere more than Europe can one find such a variety of motorcycles, bicycles, ATVs, and other unusual medical response vehicles. Narrow streets, heavy traffic, and limited access to some of the older parts of cities dictates a variety of approaches to make sure emergency medical care can quickly get to where it is needed.

If you like what you have been seeing in our reports, consider attending the next Interschutz, which will be held in 2020. The exhibition will once again be in Hanover, which is easy to get to from almost anywhere in the U.S. It’s a visit you won’t soon forget. Be sure to budget the entire week to attend—you’ll need that much time to see everything! And, who knows what will be on display the next time? There’s always a new surprise somewhere down the aisle.

Assistant Chief Daniel Mack and Firefighter/Paramedic William Doss are with Miami Township Fire & EMS in Cincinnati, Ohio and have a special interest in MCI management and disaster response.

By Daniel Mack, NREMT P & William Doss, EMT P

RECENT ARTICLES

Z-Medica and OxySure Sign Distribution Agreement Wallingford, CT, June 15, 2015-- Z-Medica® LLC, a leading developer and marketer of hemostatic devices, announces today that they have signed a distribution ...
Specialized Insurance Leader McNeil & Co. First to Offer Cardiac Care and Critical Burn Patient Advocacy and Case Management Services to Fire Industry as Part of Enhancements to Emergency Services Insurance Program New York, NY (June 2, 2015): A national leader in specialized insurance, McNeil & Co. announces it will now offer patient advocacy and case manageme...
Insurance Leader McNeil & Co. Celebrates 25th Anniversary by Launching National Marketing & Communications Campaign New York, NY (May 12, 2015): A leader in specialized insurance, McNeil & Co. is celebrating its 25thanniversary by launching a national ma...
	Bariatric and Military-Style Ambulances on Display at Interschutz 2015 A look at two specialized ambulances on display at the world’s largest fire, rescue and EMS exposition held in Hanover, Germany.
Industry Leaders Join EMS Compass to Lead Discussions on Shaping the Future of EMS System Improvement In two webinars Monday, EMS Compass kicked off a week of public discussion of how best to measure the quality of EMS services.
	Unique and Specialized Ambulances on Display at Interschutz 2015 Specially configured ambulances for transporting patients with infectious diseases are showcased.

FEATURES BY TOPIC

FEATURED CAREERS

Antarctic Fire Department – Various Positions
PAE - ASC - EXPERIENCE ANTARCTICA!…
JeffSTAT - Critical Care Transport Nurse
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - Positions…
JeffSTAT - Paramedic Critical Care Transport
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital - Positions…
Paramedic
Mecklenburg EMS Agency - Mecklenburg Emergency…
Paramedic
Champion EMS - Champion EMS, based…