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SIMPLICITY IN AMBULANCE BODIES
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Designing with a Watchful Eye on Ease of Access and Egress and on Hygiene. Current Practice in Ambulance Construction. Desirable Features in Chassis Intended for this Work THE chassis of an ambulance should be as low as possible, in order to facilitate loading and unloading the stretcher, and it should have a wheelbase of sufficient length in proportion to the body space to leave a minimum amount of overhang beyond the rear axle.
It is also an advantage if the transmission be offset, then the height of the floor in the central gangway is not influenced by the clearance necessary above the differential casing.
The external features of an ambulance are similar to those of a private bus, except that there is less window space. The driver's compartment is fully enclosed, the roof is domed, the rear corners of the body are often rounded and at the back there is one or a pair of doors.
The length of the chassis behind the dash is about 11 ft. This dimension allows 4 ft. for the driver's compartment and 7 ft. for the stretcher. Headroom measured from the floor to the underside of the roof varies from 4 ft. 3 ins. to 5 ft. 6 ins. , The larger dimension is to be preferred, because there is more air space and, therefore more scope for efficient ventilation. Moreover, plenty of headroom is necessary when there is an upper stretcher.
Not only is the amount of head r38 room inside the vehicle important, but it should be maintained at the back entrance. The plain cambered roof, like that of a boxvan, is the best from this point of view, because the top of the doors can be made to follow the curve of the roof, but with a domed roof the door-top line is at the cant-rail level. If the headroom is to be increased, the floor at the end of the gangway must be sunk to form a step.
Some municipal authorities
favour a single central door ranging from 3 ft. 2 ins. to 3 ft. 6 ins. wide. It is more quickly opened than is a pair of doors, but, on the other hand, the stretcher has to be manceuvred from the centre to the side of the vehicle.
An ambulance is about 5 ft. 6 ins. wide overall. This dimension is apportioned as follows :—On the near side there is a stretcher-base 2 ft. 3 ins, wide and on the off side a lengthwise seat and back rest occu
pying 1 it. 6 ins. If 2/, ins, be allowed for the thickness of the body sides, there is a gangway 1 ft. 4 ins. wide.
The stretcher-base is a platform built high enough to cover the wheel-arch and is of sufficient width to accommodate the small wheels or runners of the stretcher. If the stretcher be mounted on a wheeled undercarriage, these larger wheels run in wood troughs fastened to the floor, Stretcher Base as Locker.
The platform type of stretcherbase forms a useful locker, access to which is provided in the gangway or at the back. A. lengthwise seat built in a similar manner makes a second locker.
These containers, being of maximum length, are often utilized for carrying a folded stretcher. Further storage space is afforded by building a locker across the body at the base of the partition behind the driver.
If the platform of the off-side seat be not wide enough for a stretcher, it has an extension piece which slides or hinges over into the gangway.
Supporting the Upper Stretcher.
An upper stretcher-base is supported from the lower one, or from the side of the body. It is hinged, geared or balanced so that the stretcher is raised or lowered easily and smoothly. Suspension from the roof framework on the gangway side is sometimes adopted when there is no automatic loading device.
The partition at the back of the driver's compartment is used for many purposes. One or a pair of small windows affords extra lighting and a means for communication with the driver. Usually there is a separate ventilator at the top and often air circulation is promoted by an electric fan.
A fixed or tip-up wash-basin is placed in the centre of the partition, unless the attendant's seat occupies this position. If this seat be central, the basin is in the off-side corner, where it is placed under the water tank, which is fastened under the roof of the driving or stretcher compartment.
A small locker for medical supplies may be incorporated in a wash-basin cabinet, under the attendant's seat, or a separate cabinet may be fastened above the waist line, Half-drop Windows Suitable.
The half-drop window, as designed for the public service vehicle, makes an excellent fitting for the sides of the ambulance. Additional ventilation is provided by a louvred cant-rail, behind which are hinged control panels. The same kind of ventilator is fitted at the top of the back doors and usually the roof carries a pair of air extractors.
So far as the main windows of an ambulance are concerned these may be of frosted or coloured glass, whilst there is available a neutral-tinted material, which has the property of enabling one to look out through it, but it cannot be seen through from the outside.
The hygienic condition of the ambulance is easily maintained it the fittings be detachable and if all be washable, including the upholstery. When the fittings have been removed the interior of the body should present a flush surface. Therefore, the roof is panelled on the underside and ledges and small crevices, which might hold dirt, are reduced to a minimum.