Apr 24, 2006 10:36 pm US/Central
Like Airplanes, Ambulances Add Black Boxes
by Dennis Douda
(WCCO)
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Black boxes like these are being added to local ambulances.
WCCO
Black boxes aren't only on airplanes anymore. The small devices known for listening and monitoring activity are now being added to ambulances in the Twin Cities.
Perhaps people hear about black boxes the most after accidents, when they can reveal critical clues about what caused it to occur.
Ambulance drivers have a lot to keep track of but some east metro units will soon have the black boxes, which will act as an electronic co-pilot to help them.
In paramedic Jeff Groess' ambulance, the black box will beep as he turns a corner too fast. The unit noticed the ambulance was getting off-balance.
HealthEast is adding Black Box technology to 20 ambulances. This little device measures G-forces. Other readings track speed, braking, engine performance, seatbelts, turn signals, lights and sirens.
They are all factors affecting safety for everyone on the road — it also helps protect the patient who may be on their way to the hospital.
"We primarily like to be seat belted, but if we have a critical patient, our partners are going to be hovering over the top of the patient and they're not going to be seat belted. They're going to be stabilizing them," Groess said.
HealthEast will download data for 80 paramedics and EMTs daily. In other cities, the feedback has meant higher responsibility ... and lower liability.
"The insurance companies sooner or later are probably going to mandate that services have some technology similar to this installed in their ambulances," said Dave McGowan, HealthEast Ambulance Operations Manager.
Groess said he welcomes the oversight, because more important than his ego is his precious cargo.
HealthEast plans to begin testing in a couple of weeks and have the black box units operational by the end of May.
One more interesting thing: Because drivers tend to take it a little easier on the road to get better scores, ambulance maintenance costs tend to drop 15 to 20 percent.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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