Three brand new ambulances will be replacing the park's aging medical response fleet. The $135,000 vehicles are specially equipped to provide both basic and advanced life-support in remote locations and in the intense summer heat. All are four-wheel drive capable, an important feature considering the almost 800-miles of backcountry dirt roads in the recreation area.
Another feature is the use of the "Battenberg" checkerboard pattern, which is used throughout Europe, in the ambulance's side markings .
"The markings are based on ambulance visibility studies regarding what colors and designs stand out to the human eye. Every year police and paramedics are struck and killed by oncoming traffic while working accident roadway scenes," says District Ranger Dirk Murphy, Lake Mead's EMS coordinator.
The rear markings are a chevron pattern that is being rapidly adopted by many other agencies according to Murphy.
The ambulances were outfitted by Wheeled Coach of Florida under a GSA contract.
Ruby: 1.8.7, Rails: 1.1.6