Motorcycle Medic’s Hit the Road
Looks like Seattle WA is taking the que from local Florida city, Miami, as well as Pittsburg and other cities in using first responders on two wheels. “The Motorcycle Medic One Unit…will have the mobility and flexibility to better navigate downtown traffic and respond to medical emergencies when seconds count,” said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. The two year pilot program will put two paramedics on separate motorcycles outfitted with life-saving equipment including defibrillators and cardiac drugs. Of course, the motorcycles won’t be able to hold as much as their larger Medic One ambulance cousins. “The job of the motorcycle medics is to evaluate patients, coordinate hospital transport when needed and quickly move on to another medical response,” said Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean. It would be interesting to see what information is available for how many lives are saved due to the quicker response time from these motorcycle mounted medics.
