1976 54XL Equipment

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

I am not sure if this is the proper section of the Forum, but here I will post the medical and other equipment that will be part of my 54XL.

To me this hobby is more than just about the car. It is about the history of EMS, the vehicles and equipment that were used. My goal is to equip the car so that it would meet and exceed the minimum requirements set forth in the 1984 New Brunswick Standards for Ambulance Services. This car was in service until 1988, and as many of you know it was not unusual for these cars to be in service for 10 years and more, evolving from primary units to back-up units.

I intent to have as much vintage appropriate equipment as possible displayed in the car. The car will sometimes be equipped as a 9-1-1 unit, sometimes as a transfer unit, but the goal will be to always be to be representative of what it could have been back in the days.

Please feel free to comment on your stories or experiences and also to let me know if you have any equipment that would be the right fit for the car. Also feel free to post pictures of equipment you have in your car or in your possession.

I hope that this thread will remain positive and will contribute to the preservation of both these cars and their equipment.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

The 1984 Standards required a Hand Held Spotlight. I just received this mint 400,000 Candelpower Hi-Beam Spotlight. It is complete with the box, instruction and warranty sheet as well as wall clip. There are unfortunately no dates on the spotlight itself, the box or the instruction sheet, but from the research I have done it should be from the correct era. I tested the unit and it works like a charm.

 

[Bill Leverett]

We used to use a Cavitron Spot Light. It was a sealed beam spot with a rubber encased head, hand grip with spring release trigger and a curly cord. Before the days of wigwag headlights this made a great "alternate" emergency light when the attendant (right seat) shone the light into the mirrors of the vehicle we were trying to get by and needed to attract the other driver's attention. The other not so useful thing about these spot lights was when they were placed on the floor of the ambulance and the trigger got depressed. More than a few melted rubber floor mats resulted.

Keep us informed on your journey to equip the car Jean-Marc.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

The other not so useful thing about these spot lights was when they were placed on the floor of the ambulance and the trigger got depressed. More than a few melted rubber floor mats resulted.
by mistake (maybe not)

They burned a nice round hole in the rubber floor indeed....

 

[Bob Dyke]

Sometimes they burned a hole of the foam in one of the front seats if they got knocked on, no one noticed because they were pushed up against the seat........

Of course-no one knew who did it or how it happened. Gremlins!

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Just received this Plano EMS box. She is in excellent condition and will be used as my ALS box.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

I remember those tackle boxes.

 

[Bob Dyke]

When we got our first one we thought we were big time. We thought we were pretty hot stuff.

 

[Ron Devies]

I have Plano 747Ms in all of my ambulances set up as trauma boxes.

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

In order to meet the 1984 Standards, Ambulances in New Brunswick were required to carry the following:

1 - Spare Tire
Jack, wrenches, etc. for tire changing
100 feet nylon rope
1 hacksaw with 2 spare blades
1 wrecking bar minimum 27 inches
1 multihead hammer
2 pairs of leather gloves
4 flares (or equivalent)
Screwdriver set
Pliers with wire cutting abilities





I have almost everything I need except for the Jack, wrenches, etc. for tire changing. I would also be dinged because the spare tire is not secured in the cabinet. I have the items to secure the tire, I just cannot find them!

 

[John ED Renstrom]

missing the bar. toss a bottle jack in there and you good to go

 

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

Charging port added to the Laerdal suction unit. Note the European style electrical socket and connector which were standard with these units since Laerdal is from Norway.