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Vehicle usage in emergency medical service stations in the Czech Republic
BRANDEJSKÝ, Miloš
The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is one of the basic components of the Integrated Rescue System (IRS). The development of the EMS and the usage of new technologies enable an effective emergency management. Ambulances, the emergency service vehicles, are one of the most important aspects influencing the quality of care for a patient. These vehicles ensure the arrival of the EMS personnel on the site of a critical incident as soon as possible, the protection of the personnel, the protection of the patient during he transport and the equipment of ambulances and their size influence the care for a patient. Before the purchase of these vehicles the operation area, i.e. where and on what geological setting they will operate must be taken into account. Also the active and passive safety and technical parameteres must be taken into consideration. The vehicles must also comply with legal norms and norms declared by the manufacturer. Nowadays, when the market is filled with a great number of vehicle producers, vehicles made in the Czech Republic o and Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen are preferred. Specialist firms offer a wide range of car bodies and equipment tailored to the needs of the target client. The objective of the thesis was to compare the performance of vehicles in an operation area and to examine the efficiency of ambulances. The research set was formed by the personnel of the Emergency Medical Service stations in the South Bohemian region. The South Bohemian region was chosen for the diversity of the landscape morphology. The data were gathered by the questionnaire method, the research was anonymous. I set a group of 104 respondents {--} 63 drivers and 44 medical service providers. Questionnaires were composed of questions focused on the respondents´ experience with the ambulance fleet of the EMS. The research was conducted from 4th April to 17th April 2008. Four hypotheses were set: The hypothesis I {--} ambulance drivers prefer vehicles with a classical body, was confirmed. The results are a combination of a questionnaire and a discussion with the EMS personnel. The hypothesis II {--} ambulance drivers prefer vehicles with an enlarged body {--} was not confirmed. 54 % of respondents have enough room in ambulances with a classical body, 66 % have enough room in ambulances with an enlarged body. The hypothesis III {--} in the city traffic the rendez-vous system is being used {--} was not confirmed. According to 54 % of respondents out of the total number of 104 in the city transport cars are being used, but 15 % of respondents use ambulances with an enlarged body and 22 % of respondents never use the rendez-vous system. The hypothesis IV {--} ambulances with an enlarged body have enough room for emergency interventions in the prehospital emergency care {--} was confirmed. 66 % of respondents state that there is enough room in this type of an ambulance, 10 % state that there is not. The research data analysis shows that vehicles used by the EMS are reliable, quality and safety vehicles regardless of their make. Ambulance drivers prefer the vehicles with classical body because they are used to them. They criticise the vehicles with an enlarged body because of the increased width (only rear mirrors are bigger) which is the reason for slow passage in heavy traffic or through densely built-up sites. But the EMS providers prefer ambulances with classical body because they are used to the inner layout. The ambulances with an enlarged body have enough room for emergency interventions in the prehospital care but emergency care providers are not used to another inner layout. The results of my research will be published on newly formed websites {--} health care encyclopaedia {--} section automobiles.
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