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46 °F 5 Day Forecast Sunday, November 30, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 20, 2003 Emergency medical technician Nick Barkemeyer demonstrates how easy it is to stand up and work in Mercy Flights� new Sprinter ambulances. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Tall new ambulances don’t look like their predecessors or cost as much to run By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Two tall European imports have been turning heads on Rogue Valley streets and highways. Unless you’re an ambulance driver for Mercy Flights, you’ll probably never fully appreciate their four-wheel disc brakes, tight turning radius, improved acceleration and ergonomically designed seats. The new ambulances’ tall profile and their bulbous front ends make them stand out among the 14 rigs in Mercy Flights’ stable. General Manager Ken Parsons said Jackson County’s largest ambulance service chose the new vehicles because they cost significantly less to buy and operate than traditional ambulances. "Our projection is we’ll reduce overall maintenance costs about half," Parsons said. Advertisement Powered by a five-cylinder Mercedes diesel engine, the new Sprinter ambulances cost about $53,000 each. Parsons estimated a comparable ambulance on an American-made truck frame would cost at least $73,000. The new rigs also have far better fuel economy than traditional ambulances (20 mpg versus 10 mpg) and require significantly less maintenance. While the ambulances sport an American emblem (Freightliner) on their grilles, they were built in Europe by DaimlerChrysler. American LaFrance, the company best known for building fire engines, outfitted the Sprinters for ambulance service, Parsons said. The new ambulances were designed to provide a smoother ride for patients than traditional ambulances, said Dave Cook, Mercy Flights’ director of medical operations. He noted that the new vehicles’ higher ceilings also give emergency medical technicians a more comfortable work space. "There’s 72 inches of interior headroom," Cook said. "That’s tall enough for our medics to stand up while they’re working." Cook said the Sprinters’ low center of gravity makes them extremely stable despite their tall profile and relatively narrow width. Their low floor height means EMTs will have an easier job loading patients, too. Parsons said the Sprinters are about 8 inches narrower than traditional ambulances. The slimmer cargo space essentially reduces to one the number of patients that can travel in the new ambulance, but Parsons noted that more than 90 percent of all calls are for single patients. More than one ambulance is typically dispatched when more than one person needs emergency transport, Parsons said. EMT Nick Barkemeyer of Medford gave the new ambulances his stamp of approval. "They’re a lot quieter when you’re driving," he said. "They have more get-up-and-go. They’re a lot more maneuverable in traffic, especially when you’re on a call." Parsons said Mercy Flights plans to add more Sprinters to its fleet as other ambulances are replaced if they fulfill their potential to save money. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times