With over 40 years in the EMS industry, Braun has established itself as a leader among competitors. One way we aim to do this is by staying on top of the latest industry trends and needs. We are always at the forefront of safety mandates, constantly seeking out innovative ways to protect the patients and crew that ride in our emergency vehicles.

There has been a lot of talk in the ambulance community about the forthcoming NFPA 1917 standards. These will be the new standards for automotive ambulances that were originally set to go into effect January 1, 2013. The document is currently under review, with the next edition due out in 2016.

In order to stay on top of these standards and provide practical industry knowledge in the development of them, Scott Braun, Braun Vice President of Quality Solutions, has been appointed an NFPA 1917 Technical Committee Member. Chad Brown, Braun’s VP of Sales & Marketing, serves as his alternate. Scott joins other representatives from ambulance manufacturers, fire departments, chassis builders, and more to help properly scope out these new standards. 

 

 

To date, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1917, Standard for Automotive Ambulances, has been somewhat controversial. Without gaining widespread adoption, the document is currently open for public input. This public input period will last until July 8, 2013; an electronic system for submitting and processing feedback was recently implemented to facilitate this dialog. The 1917 Committee is also currently considering two tentative interim amendments that were proposed by the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO).

If you’d like to review the  current version, you can view it on the NFPA website. There, you can also submit your comments.

We look forward to keeping you informed about the latest on NFPA 1917 as things progress!

Posted by Beth Hawks in Ambulance Education, Ambulance Safety, Industry News on February 27, 2013

January is a busy month for Braun Industries!  Dealer representatives will be attending Fire-Rescue EAST and the Wisconsin EMS Show to meet with customers in person and show off the latest ambulance models. Braun Industries Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Chad Brown, will also be hitting the road to attend the FDSOA 25th Annual Apparatus Symposium.

The symposium is sponsored by the Fire Department Safety Officers Association, in partnership with FAMA. It will be held January 20 – 23, 2013 at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in Florida. The event will focus on best practices in apparatus specification and vehicle maintenance and safety.

Chad Brown is scheduled to speak on Monday, January 21st at 3:00 pm, and again Tuesday, January 22nd at 2:30 pm. His presentations are part of the Ambulance Track, focused on educating attendees on their next ambulance purchase. The primary focus of these presentations will be on the new NFPA 1917 requirements and the impact these specifications will have on the interior design and layout of ambulances. With the new safety requirements comes increased costs for emergency vehicles, these details will also be covered. Additionally, Chad will touch on other innovations and features focused on building a better ambulance with a smoother, safer ride. For background information on Chad, you can check out his LinkedIn profile.

Other speakers in the Ambulance Track include Mark Ober, Chief of Anderson Township in Ohio and Bob Neitzel of Navistar Corp. Ober is set to present on “What lies ahead for the patient compartment?” This presentation will cover new seating layouts for EMS professionals in the ambulance module and how you can prepare for your next ambulance purchase. Neitzel will speak on “What is the best chassis for your next purchase?” This presentation will focus on building an NFPA compliant chassis and how to select the perfect foundation for your next emergency vehicle. 

To register for the symposium or find out more details on the speakers/agenda, you can visit the FDSOA website.

Posted by Beth Hawks in Ambulance Education, Events on December 28, 2012

REMINDER: Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page to win prizes every day this week… or sign up to receive our new email publication “Built for Life – Built for You” to win an EMS Week prize pack!

Our modern EMS system has a short history of only 40 years and can be traced back to a single piece of legislation introduced in 1973. Sponsored by Senator Alan Cranston of California, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Systems Act of 1973 was a pioneering piece of legislation. It was one of the first pieces of federal legislation that sought to give all individuals equal access to emergency medical services.

The EMS Systems Act established regional EMS systems through the administration of federal grants. These grants were marked to fund the study and planning of an EMS system, establishment and initial operation, expansion and improvement, EMS training and research. To receive the funds, regional EMS systems were required to serve everyone in their district and be run by one public or private nonprofit agency.

The EMS Systems Act also spelled out 15 elements of an EMS system. One of these was public education. To help fulfill these elements, the first director of the Division of Emergency Medical Service Systems (DEMSS) – David R. Boyd – convinced President Gerald R. Ford to proclaim an “Emergency Medical Services Week.” The week would serve as an opportunity for EMS systems around the country to reach out to the public and help educate them on emergency medical care and more.

According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the three primary goals of EMS Week are:

1. Promote your EMS service within your local community
2. Educate the public on safety and health-related topics,
3. Provide information on new EMS clinical procedures or equipment to EMS providers

EMS Week always occurs during the third full week in May. The 2012 theme is “EMS: More Than A Job. A Calling.”

Sources:

EMS Week 2012 Planning Guide from The American College of Emergency Physicians

The EMS Systems Act from eHow

National EMS Act from eHow

Posted by Beth Hawks in Ambulance Education, Events on May 23, 2012