Lately, I keep noticing a tiny ambulance on my street. That is something new to me. I know our MDA emergency and rescue service, makes use of full size ambulances, and motorcycles .
I've never seen a mini-ambulance like the one on my street. It looks like a curiosity toy (and indeed attracts kids), until you approach it and see it's serious.
the mini seen from an upper floor
I've found out that our MDA (Magen David Adom) launched an entire fleet of these rather cute vehicles some two years ago. The minis are supposed to speed up response time, in hard to reach places (i.e. in major cities which have many narrow streets and alleyways).
front of the mini ambulance
The vehicle is electrical with two front seats, and equipped with first aid kits, and sirens. The predominant color is strong yellow which helps with its visibility. As I understand, these mini ambulances are allocated to volunteers who've been trained as paramedics.
back of the mini ambulance
It's good to know we have a paramedic volunteer on our street. However, I hope we never need him. By saying that I mean not to be an emergency case, and also not to need neighbors in emergency; they're not always there for us.
side of the mini ambulance
I was once very frustrated by a neighbor,pharmacist by profession.. I urgently needed a solution for my mother, and the above pharmacist refused to prepare it ; the basis for his refusal was a stupid formality. It was the only solution (prescription of an ear doctor) that could ease the terrible itching in my 80 year old mother's deaf ear. Luckily, I had no difficulty finding an other pharmacist in town, willing to prepare the solution, but it took some time and effort.
The mini ambulances seem like a great idea, and one that could be adopted to advantage in cities around the world. A creative solution indeed.
ReplyDeleteRight - great idea. Not sure whether it's an israeli original idea, probably not, more likely it's an'imported' idea or imported vehicles.
ReplyDeleteWhat matters is that it helps give a quick assessment, and on-scene intervention . It cannot offer, of course, transport of the patient.
I have not seen them in other countries, so it may well be an Israeli solution.
DeleteI would be very proud to know it's an israeli concept. If possible, I'll try to look into it and find out as to the real origin. I'm just curious.
DeleteIt is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteOut my way, our emergency crews have snow machines, and jet skis for cottage country emergencies!
Indeed. Not only is it a great emergency idea, but the mere sight of the tiny vehicle is quite a pleasant attraction for both kids and adults.
DeleteGreat idea to use a smaller vehicle to get through faster.
ReplyDeleteSpeed is crucial in an emergency when there's life to be saved. The faster the vehicle can get through, the better.
DeleteWhat a clever idea. If you can get someone with knowledge, basic equipement there fast, they could get started. Plus, they're very cute!
ReplyDeleteUnlike the awkward, frightening standard ambulances, this mini one looks cute and is very efficient. A total gem!
DeleteThat is really interesting. A few years ago, at the high school I helped to manage, someone in the finance office was taken seriously ill. The First Responder was there in minutes and the paramedics weren't far behind. The ambulance took a little longer, took her to hospital and she was airlifted to a specialist unit within an hour of her arrival. It saved her life, that each was able to give her emergency treatment within its capabilities. Quick action can make all the difference.
ReplyDelete'"Quick action can make all the difference" - how very true!
DeleteThe ambulance has the advantage of transporting the patient to the hospital. But the quick action of the first responders, the paramedics can actually save his life before getting to the hospital.
A good thing for ancient cities with narrow streets.
ReplyDeleteYes, old towns have many narrow streets; this mini ambulance can be a life-saver with its ability to navigate and maneuver the difficult spaces.
DeleteI like the mini ambulance. I'm assuming if the patient has to be transported to a hospital a big ambulance shows up??
ReplyDeletebetty
You're assuming correctly, Betty. The paramedic of the mini does the first assessment of the patient, tries to preserve life until the regular ambulance comes to the spot.
DeleteWhat a great idea that is.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Great, clever, creative, original - it certainly deserves a lot of good, positive epithets.
DeleteWhatever helps saving life - deserves to be appreciated and valued.
That mini ambulance sounds like a nice idea and looks cute too! Stay safe and healthy everyone ☺
ReplyDeleteNot tasty like your buns or muffins:) but nice and cute nontheless.
DeleteI'm curious to know which country, besides Israel, has these mini ambulances in use.
Youor pharmacist of no help sounds like a person who "goes by the books" as my mother would say.
ReplyDeleteThese mini ambulances are a fantastic idea. Seems like allbig cities in US should adopt this. I like theidea of buying refrigerator magnets to keep the travel memory aive. Although at this point, travel seems a thing of the past. Always enjoy your blog posts.
That pharmacist was just mean. The active ingredient in the ear solution was at that time, and for a short period, on a list of banned substances, but - for children's stuff, not for adults or elderly.
DeleteFact is, I got the solution prepared by another pharmacist who knew well the regulation.
I have never seen such a vehicle ! would be nice in Italy where the streets are very narrow. I also had such a narrow minded pharmacist, I have to inhale each day a powder and for once had forgotten to order it. He didn't want to give it to me without prescription ! The next one gave it to me because it was an emergency and I promised to bring the prescription next day !!
ReplyDeleteThe pharmacist mentioned was a neighbor, and familiar with my mother and her suffering, and yet, it did nothing to him.
DeleteWell, I think the mini ambulance sounds like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and well.
All the best Jan
It seems there's unanimity among the commnters about the mini ambulance:
Deletegood, nice, clever, great...idea.
The Mini-Ambulance looks like a great innovation for helping people and saving lives! Looks very well designed and efficient. Nice views from your photos. May you and your neighbors stay healthy and safe!♡
ReplyDelete'Innovation' indeed. It's seen in its compact design and speed/ease of moving to and around the target.
DeleteThanks, Shaybndel, for your good wishes.
What a great idea those little ambulances are...they'd be of great importance and service, I am sure.
ReplyDeleteSo frustrating about that pharmacist...damned annoying to be honest. I hope all worked out well in the end, DUTA. Take good care. :)
All worked out well as the solution got prepared after all, albeit by another pharmacist.
DeleteEar itching can be as bad as pain, if not worse; the solution brought my Mom the expected relief.
These mini ambulances are a great idea. I had never heard of them before reading about it here. Thank you for sharing this, I learned something new here. Wishing you all the best. Stay Safe, my friend!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, these mini ambulances are a great contribution to emergency services; they've got the perfect speed and first aid stuff neccessary to save life.
DeleteThis is also the first time I've read about and seen a mini-ambulance. I can imagine they would make it easier to get around a crowded street. It's too bad that pharmacist neighbor would not step in to help your mother with her ear problem.
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure - its compact design make it easy to navigate and maneuver narrow and/or crowded places.
DeleteSadly, neighbors and even friends are not always there for us, as expected.
Wow.
ReplyDeleteWow, indeed.
DeleteI suppose your 'Wow' is referring to the above tiny ambulances which are a step forward in emergency service innovations for saving lives.
The mini ambulances are a great idea.
ReplyDeleteSo they say, and I totally agree with that.
DeleteThe mini ambulance is terrific! How great to be able to get through traffic and get a medic where he/she needs to be quickly. Here we have a strange situation regarding city ambulances. They are a part of the fire department rescue team and when an ambulance is called out, a rescue firetruck follows. Huh? Make sense? Well, for some reasons it does, but not usually. If the patient is trapped in a vehicle or high in a building, perhaps the firetruck is needed. Usually not, though.
ReplyDeleteHere, in our part of the world,sometimes fire fighting trucks and ambulances work together in certain emergency operations, such as the ones you've mentioned. However, as far as I know,they don't belong to the same department.
ReplyDeleteWeird looking vehicle. Will it take people to hospital sitting up?
ReplyDeleteSome consider it weird, some think it's cute. Anyway, it's not for taking the patient to the hospital, just for dealing with him on the spot. If there's need for hospital, a regular ambulance will be fetched.
DeleteIt's kind of adorable...
ReplyDeleteWell, I wouldn't go so far as to call this mini vehicle adorable; perhaps 'cute' is more suitable.
DeleteWe've been getting an ice cream truck on our street. The music is starting to drive me nuts!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely understand that. Even without music, the size of a truck or a van can get on our nerves.
DeleteIt would seem that these minis are some sort of an israeli invention as the other commenters haven't seen them in their countries.
ReplyDeleteAs for the pharmacist, I try to forget about his existence.