Light Rescues?

[rkulp51]

What is the requirement for a unit to be a Light Rescue and who manufacturers the best in your opinion? What are some features you'd put on an ALS non-transport rescue truck. What are some tools you'd put on it? What is the best make for the vehicle? What extraction tools and which type would you use? We'd like to use this for a light/medium rescue and ALS unit with a staffing of 2 at the least if possible. Thank you!

[slackjawedyokel]

One mans meat is another mans poison - one departments light is another departments medium. Too many variables -starting with your departments staffing / call volume / demographics / responce area etc. Try and find a department that operates in a similar manner to yours and ask what works best for them.

[backsteprescue123]

We have a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab that we use as a light rescue/BLS/manpower unit. We carry water/ice rescue equipment and BLS gear in there. For us it works since we have a heavy rescue squad to carry everything else (in addition to more ice/water rescue equipment). We tow our boat with the pickup and also send it for manpower on certain EMS calls (unconscious, seizures, etc)

But if you don't have a Heavy to carry more of your rescue equipment and this will be your primary rescue vehicle, I would reccommend evaluating your current rescue equipment compliment and evaluating the types of rescues you are most likely to face. A good start would be a good compliment of hand tools, cord reels, lights, sawzall, hydraulic tools (minimum of a combo tool), bottle jacks, high lift jack, cribbing, spare SCBA bottles, etc.

[rkulp51]

Most the rescues we've had in the past are vehicle, elevator, or cars stuck in water. Nothing major, all of our mutual aid departments run heavy or medium rescues with a quick response time. What is the best type of truck for a light rescue?

[Nozzle nut 22]

I can't answer for BEST, but most light rescues/ utility/squads I've seen are on a Ford F series, or a Dodge 5500. Depends on your horsepower needs, and how much weight you need to carry. If your state has a State bid on this type of chassis, you can save some serious dough.

Secondly, I've been quite impressed with both Hackney's and Rescue 1's designs for this type. They both specialize in rescues and have tons of options. That said, most full line manuf's have this type of rescue in their lineup. Pricewise, I dunno- never priced one out. There are relatively few of these in my area. The only one that comes to mind is East Avon's, which is, I believe, A Pierce- like the rest of their fleet. They seem to like it! It's built on a 4 door p/u chassis. This one is mostly used for support functions, they use the quint for extrication.

For paramedic use, you'll need power for all the chargeable equipment, and a secure, climate controlled cmpt for the drug box(s). I'd also spec a generator, plenty of scene lights, and at least 2 cord reels.

[rkulp51]

The one thing we are looking for is having a build in generator with a spare, we also would like to have a 200' cord reel, a portable spare generator, and at LEAST 2 hydraulic reel connections off the rear for preconnected extraction tools. The first right front compartments will be dedicated for EMS equipment. Coffin compartments for extra cribbing and the spare generator. The rear right side should be for elevator rescue equipment, little giant and some extra tools.
The left side is strictly dedicated to rescue with a compartment for air bag, step chocks, and extinguishers. The scene lights and extra cord reels will be on the left with some extra SCBAs and anything extra we can add. We are hoping to find a 10-14' body with non-walk in compartments.

[Fyrtrks]

RKulp:

It sounds like you are moving towards a medium duty rescue. A 14' body with coffin compartments I think would be just right for you. The other question I would have is are you thinking of how much crew you are going to carry. I think you will NOT be happy with a smaller chassis if you are going to carry crew who will be in SCBA. I have lots of ideas.

[slackjawedyokel]

Frytrucks hit the nail on the head -- you are creeping up fast to a medium - and thats just starting out - figure in the "velcro effect" and you need to spec a medium duty chassis -

[GTRider245]

Agreed. You are already outgrowing a light rescue. There are many around my area that are overloaded and you do not want to go that route.

[backsteprescue123]

To agree with the other guys, definately sounds like some sort of medium duty chassis would work much better for you guys.

An area department had a minipumper on an F-550 chassis and ended up replacing it soon after delivery with a GMC medium duty chassis and last I heard they were happy with it.

[LaFireEducator]

Our light rescue is an F-450 4-door chassis.

It is primarily an EMS response truck with a combi-tool, some cribbing, basic hand tools and a structural service truck w/ 6 SCBA, 6 cylinders, chainsaw, K-12, generator, portable lights and salvage covers. It also functions as the paid staff's primary runaround vehicle for daily testing, maintainence and administrative tasks.

It replaced a 2-door version with the same chassis and box. That truck only ran on about 30% of the EMS calls as it only had 2 seats. The heavy rescue was the primary EMS response vehicle.

We got about 6 years out of it before cycling it down to a volunteer station as a service truck.

We plan on getting 3-4 years out of the current 4-door version before cycling it over to a service truck at one of our volunteer stations due to the increased milage of now being the primary EMS unit.

Bulk of the heavy rescue equipment is carried on the rescue truck.

[rkulp51]

We are now looking into a medium duty. We are looking to model around a paramedic squad company such as LA county. They are the ideal rescue and would suit our district.

[GTRider245]

We are now looking into a medium duty. We are looking to model around a paramedic squad company such as LA county. They are the ideal rescue and would suit our district.

Anything on a F-550 chassis is not medium duty...

[firepundit]

Anything on a F-550 chassis is not medium duty...

A class 5 chassis is not a medium duty? When did that happen?

[GTRider245]

A class 5 chassis is not a medium duty? When did that happen?

It may be a medium duty chassis, but it is not a medium duty rescue. Rule of thumb is that anything on a chassis like we are talking about is considered light. Medium would be a commercial chassis and heavy would be a custom chassis. At least that is the way I have always looked at it, and appearantly so do the manufacterers.

http://svitrucks.com/rescues.asp

[rescueraver]

I was looking at the new Navistar Terrastar light duty truck (class 5) the other day on the lot of the dealership. I was very impressed, flip up hood, big cab,low frame height, aluminum fuel tank, big door handle, great visabilty. The truck looked to be well suited for light duty applications. The truck cab impressed me the most I wish they had a 4 door. They said they are comeing out with a four wheel drive version this year.
Sounds like you have a nice layout, I would add a third reel and have a combi and a small gas powered unit. We have the hurst MOC combi, we hardley ever pull out the spreader the third real with a combi will allow you to have two seperate operations going at once, cutter/ spreader at one combi on the other Invest in some rescue jacks we use them more then airbags.

[rkulp51]

Where would the ideal spot for the third reel be? Which hydraulic tools would be best suitable for a light-medium rescue?

[firepundit]

It may be a medium duty chassis, but it is not a medium duty rescue. Rule of thumb is that anything on a chassis like we are talking about is considered light. Medium would be a commercial chassis and heavy would be a custom chassis. At least that is the way I have always looked at it, and appearantly so do the manufacterers.

http://svitrucks.com/rescues.asp

From the site you linked:

"Medium Rescues are typically built on Medium Duty 2-door, extended cab, or 4-door, 4 x 2 or 4 x 4 Commercial Freightliner, or Navistar cab/chassis in body lengths from 14' to 20'."

Note the word, "typically" and the fact that they state they build medium duty rescues on medium duty chassis.

The Ford F550 is a medium duty chassis. They might use literary license to call it a Superduty but their published body builder books refer to it as a medium duty. Class 5 chassis are medium duty. You can call them light duty but the truck industry doesn't.

If Spartan were to build a chassis in the 16,000 GVWR range it would also be a medium duty since custom and commercial have no bearing on the matter.

I have worked for body and chassis builders for over thirty years and never heard of your rule of thumb.