Emergency medical services: Ambulance technology
Botswana Ministry of Health invests in 120 new ambulances control (PDC) and reverse cameras as aids for the medics. There were 74 standard ambulances for the Ministry of Health with one specification and 46 for Ministry of Health EMS Emergency Response division with a different specification. All vehicles were delivered fully equipped with medical equipment as per the Botswana Ministry of Health specifications. All vehicles had reflective branding either in Ministry of Health layout or EMS layout.
T
he Ministry of Health Botswana invested in 120 new ambulances earlier this year. The ambulances were built by South African company, Emergency Vehicle Conversions (EVC) based in Jet Park, Ekurhuleni that specialises in basic, intermediate and advanced life support ambulances designed to suit your specific environment. “We completed 120 Toyota Quantum ambulances for Halfway Ngami Toyota
The floors and edges of floors with furniture and walls were covered in red polyurethane rubber coating for a safe and watertight ambulance. in Maun, Botswana, for the Botswana Ministry of Health between March and the second week of July 2021. These had to be out in this time due to the budget period of the Botswana Ministry of Health”, said Jonty Rosenthal, managing member of Emergency Vehicle Conversions (EVC). The vehicles that were used for the conversion are Toyota Quantum super long wheel base (SLWB) panel vans each fitted with park distance
The furniture was custom built to their specification in mild steel, sand blasted and then electro powder-coated in white to be able to be cleaned easily. All the furniture and brackets were produced to fit their equipment and with crew and patient safety in mind. “We fitted Sitmed MWS 320 stretchers that are hard wearing and can take a large weight, with large wheels. These stretchers were redesigned for Southern Africa by the Brazilian manufactures with Oliver Wright of the South African Private Ambulance and Emergency Services Association (SAPAESA) and EVC’s input, as they are usually used in much bigger vehicles than we use in Southern Africa”, said Rosenthal. All vehicles had the latest emergency warning lights, sirens and interior light designs with LED technology. The new ambulances were fitted with rear air-conditioners for the patient sections and supplied with factoryfitted in dash units. Full bulkheads with windows for communication to separate the drivers and patients compartments were fitted, which
38 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL
Volume 6 | No 2
