Safest lights/sound/color in ambulances - 1991 study
- Thread starter Mike McGeehan
- Start date
Interesting, I do remember reading that back in the day.
Much of the concern of the study is moot these days. Sirens have been moved to the front of the ambulance, they are no longer above the crew's head, which has significantly reduced the hearing issue. Strobe lights have been replaced with LED's, which are much more effective visually.
The issue with Omaha Orange was never one of visibility as much as it was one of standardization - that all ambulances be painted the same color so the public could recognize them. But that could only be mandated for ambulances bought with Federal funds - once the '70's/early 80's money ran out, so did the popularity of orange.
The study asserts that there was no hazard of older strobe lights causing seizures. I can tell you firsthand that's BS - I ran one. Had a guy who was walking home from the liquor store, and there was a fire on the side street. He said he looked up the street, saw all the fire truck strobe lights, and the next thing he knew, we (medics) were standing over him and he'd had a seizure. It did happen, a lot, back then.
As for the visibility of lime-yellow/green, the fire service and EMS never warmed up to it much. A lot of people didn't like it (and that said, I owned a lime-yellow car for many years which I loved). And yet, the new Federal standards require anyone working at a crash on Federal highways to be wearing a lime-yellow and reflective white safety vest, so it remains today.
Much of the concern of the study is moot these days. Sirens have been moved to the front of the ambulance, they are no longer above the crew's head, which has significantly reduced the hearing issue. Strobe lights have been replaced with LED's, which are much more effective visually.
The issue with Omaha Orange was never one of visibility as much as it was one of standardization - that all ambulances be painted the same color so the public could recognize them. But that could only be mandated for ambulances bought with Federal funds - once the '70's/early 80's money ran out, so did the popularity of orange.
The study asserts that there was no hazard of older strobe lights causing seizures. I can tell you firsthand that's BS - I ran one. Had a guy who was walking home from the liquor store, and there was a fire on the side street. He said he looked up the street, saw all the fire truck strobe lights, and the next thing he knew, we (medics) were standing over him and he'd had a seizure. It did happen, a lot, back then.
As for the visibility of lime-yellow/green, the fire service and EMS never warmed up to it much. A lot of people didn't like it (and that said, I owned a lime-yellow car for many years which I loved). And yet, the new Federal standards require anyone working at a crash on Federal highways to be wearing a lime-yellow and reflective white safety vest, so it remains today.
Around here, all the traffic police, and highway workers are wearing a lime green safety vest. Problem is that around here, the trees are in such great abundance along the road.. i.e. long areas of nothing but woods, that the workers just blend into the background, and are not easily noticed.
Wayne Krakowski
PCS Member
In Ontario at one time when directly controlled by provincial government every ambulance was Omaha orange,now since the province has downloaded the ambulances to local governments we have every color under the rainbow and some look like a paint factory explosion.Was fire not once on a big yellow truck kick,now since the movie "backdraft" many want to be black/red,and Steve is right strobes will cause seizures.
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
winking white lights are the best attention getter. always have been. as for the safety lime they found that it was best in the dusk- low light conditions but you lost the rig completely in bright sunlight. right now for me the worse set of lights are the leds. you come across them at night and your unable to get you night vision back for a block or two. then need to have a day night switch on them.
"Is Ambulance Transport Time With Lights and Siren Faster Than That Without?"
http://www.emergencydispatch.org/articles/ambulancetransporttime1.htm
Conclusion: "We conclude that in the setting in which this study was conducted, the 43.5-second mean time savings with warning L&S does not warrant use of L&S during ambulance transport, except in extremely rare situational or clinical circumstances. We support the NAEMSP and the NAEMSD position that the use of warning L&S during an emergency response to the scene and during transport should be based on standardized protocols that take into account situational and patient problem assessments, and that EMS system medical directors should participate directly in the development of policies governing the use of L&S. Further studies to determine time savings with L&S in other EMS systems, especially those in urban and rural areas, are needed so that each system can rationally balances any time savings with L&S against the risks associated with their use."
http://www.emergencydispatch.org/articles/ambulancetransporttime1.htm
Conclusion: "We conclude that in the setting in which this study was conducted, the 43.5-second mean time savings with warning L&S does not warrant use of L&S during ambulance transport, except in extremely rare situational or clinical circumstances. We support the NAEMSP and the NAEMSD position that the use of warning L&S during an emergency response to the scene and during transport should be based on standardized protocols that take into account situational and patient problem assessments, and that EMS system medical directors should participate directly in the development of policies governing the use of L&S. Further studies to determine time savings with L&S in other EMS systems, especially those in urban and rural areas, are needed so that each system can rationally balances any time savings with L&S against the risks associated with their use."
I always tell new partners that they are on the wrong truck if the expect a lot of code 3 driving. Unless the patient has started down the drain, is a serious trauma, or an OB with crowning, I don't go code.
I don't trust this new batch of kids that want to drive fast and make a lot of noise. That's not what I'm out there for. I will put mine and my patients safety in front of someone's ego any day.
I did an experiment one day. We had back to back calls from the same nursing home. On the second call I slowed down, drove easily, no hard stops, and only had a four second change in times. No big reason to get in a hurry.
I don't trust this new batch of kids that want to drive fast and make a lot of noise. That's not what I'm out there for. I will put mine and my patients safety in front of someone's ego any day.
I did an experiment one day. We had back to back calls from the same nursing home. On the second call I slowed down, drove easily, no hard stops, and only had a four second change in times. No big reason to get in a hurry.
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
I to did that experiment. we would call dispatch when we left the station and when we arrived. we could get any were in town with lights and siren running intersections and the red light in about 3 min. if you left stuff off and stop at the light and intersections it took us 3.5 min. so from then on unless cpr was in progress we just rolled up. your ears weren't ringing, your hart wasn't pounding and all you need to do was step out of the truck and attend to business. made for a much nicer day.
James Fischer
PCS Member
Code 3
You also have to remember the ride TO the scene.....where you HAVE to roll code 3 when dispatched as such.
The same guys that want to roll code FROM the scene think they have to get there just as fast,if not faster since they have the mind set of "they need us,we have to save their lives,we have to beat everyone there etc. etc......
It has gotten better over the years,but there still are a few....
I know the a lot of times the CHP questions why a particular call was dispatched code 3...when in their opinion it should have been a 2.....:stop:
There is nothing worse then rolling to a vehicle accident code 3 and haveing the CHP give you this look of disdain as you roll up...you just know someone is going to get a talking to ( as well they should)....
You also have to remember the ride TO the scene.....where you HAVE to roll code 3 when dispatched as such.
The same guys that want to roll code FROM the scene think they have to get there just as fast,if not faster since they have the mind set of "they need us,we have to save their lives,we have to beat everyone there etc. etc......
It has gotten better over the years,but there still are a few....
I know the a lot of times the CHP questions why a particular call was dispatched code 3...when in their opinion it should have been a 2.....:stop:
There is nothing worse then rolling to a vehicle accident code 3 and haveing the CHP give you this look of disdain as you roll up...you just know someone is going to get a talking to ( as well they should)....
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
one has to remember other districts and states have different ways of doing things. here it's up to the ambulance driver how they want to go. I was referring to from the garage to the scene in my example. also in SD you have the option of only running lights when on the road. in city limits is must be L&S. makes the longer transfers less of a headache.