Beginning in May, certain Type 1 and Type 3 ambulances from American Emergency Vehicles (AEV), Leader, Road Rescue, and Wheeled Coach will have the option of MBrace, a sophisticated airbag system made especially for ambulance patient compartments.
MBrace is the first airbag safety device designed to shield emergency medical personnel from frontal accidents and ambulance rollovers. It was created in collaboration with IMMI.
By directly incorporating airbag protection into a multi-point restraint system, MBrace raises the bar for ambulance safety. Because of its design, first responders can stay safely secured in a four-point harness with a single point of connection while still having access to patients and equipment.
In the case of a frontal collision, airbags from the harness are deployed to help protect the head and neck once sensors detect impact in milliseconds. Emergency service providers may carry out their responsibilities without sacrificing safety thanks to the system's design, which strikes a balance between protection and mobility.
“Protecting our first responders is fundamental to everything we do,” said Irina Hot, vice president of sales, Ambulance Group, Specialty Vehicles segment, Terex Corporation. “Expanding the availability of MBrace across more of our ambulance brands reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative safety solutions when they matter most.”
The attendant seat and side-facing positions, such as the squad bench and CPR seat, can have the optional MBrace system. Configurations with an Integrated Child Seat (ICS) are incompatible with it. On systems where MBrace is not chosen, Per4Max seatbelts will continue to be standard equipment.
About the Author
Ryan Baker
Associate Editor
Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for Firehouse with a master's degree in sciences of communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.