Escambia EMS Adding ‘Ambubus’ For Mass Casualty Transports

January 6, 2022

Escambia County EMS is converting a retired school bus into an AmbuBus.

The Ambubus is just what the name sounds like — a bus that has been transformed into an ambulance for transporting multiple patients at the same time. The seating is removed and replaced with cots, stretchers and areas for medical supplies.

“We can do a mass movement for patients,” Escambia County Public Safety Eric Gilmore said. “If we have a mass casualty, we have to move patients from  a hospital, or we have to evacuate, we will have the AmbuBus.”

The bus was donated by the Escambia County School District, and the county has the conversion kit.

The Florida Department of Health has awarded the county a $25,714 grant to install the conversion kit to complete the inside of the bus.

“It can transport 14-16 patients, or more if they are not in serious condition,” Gilmore said. “It will help us move a lot of people real fast.”

Pictured: The inside of two Ambubus vehicles, courtesy First Line Tech.

Comments

7 Responses to “Escambia EMS Adding ‘Ambubus’ For Mass Casualty Transports”

  1. Agatha on January 9th, 2022 10:13 pm

    I pity the folks who have to lift the patients onto that top tier of the 3 bunks. Hope it’s never needed.

  2. John on January 7th, 2022 7:01 am

    I agree with Big Jim.

  3. Carola on January 6th, 2022 3:35 pm

    Kudos to the one or ones that came up with this!!!

  4. Vanessa Sligar on January 6th, 2022 2:42 pm

    What a great idea!

  5. Great Idea on January 6th, 2022 11:37 am

    This is a great idea. Recycling something that has been setting there. Great way to save the tax payers money.

  6. Paul on January 6th, 2022 9:38 am

    It would have to make multiple stops since most hospitals in our area couldn’t handle that many people at once. They’re already waiting in the hallways.

  7. Big Jim on January 6th, 2022 9:22 am

    Nice to see this kind of forward thinking by Escambia EMS. Let’s hope the Ambubus is never needed.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News