"Motorcycle Medics Reach the Injured Faster in Austin"

[cbsnbiker]

Motorcycle Medics Reach the Injured Faster in Austin

http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Motorcycle-Medics-Reach-the-Injured-Faster-in-Austin.html

In early June, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in Austin, Texas, began using a different mode of transportation to reach the injured along the congested and accident-prone Interstate 35: medically equipped motorcycles. Rather than navigating the congested highway in ambulances, EMS personnel now hop on their motorcycles to respond to traffic accident victims — a tactic that originated in London, and has proven successful in Florida’s Miami-Dade County for nearly five years.

Motorcycles can arrive two to three minutes faster than an ambulance — especially during large congested events like Austin’s South by Southwest music festival, said Eric S. Jakubauskas, commander of Austin-Travis County EMS Special Events. And those extra minutes can mean the difference between life and death, he said. “That can be special if the person is in severe respiratory distress or was having a cardiac problem — two to three minutes can mean whether you resuscitate the person or you don’t.”

[caddydaddy]

I'd like to see this rescue bike on the roads!

[Gary B.]

Interesting.

[tjhess74]

charleston county (sc) ems has been using harleys for a few years now.  not very often, but they do get out.

[antvq]

I would have thought a motorcycle would be much more than 3 minutes quicker than an ambulance trying to make it through a traffic jam.  

[Joey Stalin]

These should be implemented in many areas that have large traffic congestion problems (aka, my area).

[miles]

I would have thought a motorcycle would be much more than 3 minutes quicker than an ambulance trying to make it through a traffic jam.  

No lane splitting in Texas.

[caddydaddy]

No lane splitting in Texas.

Like that would ever stop a cop or ambulance driver from doing that!

[spd2918]

I would have thought a motorcycle would be much more than 3 minutes quicker than an ambulance trying to make it through a traffic jam.  

They are using BMWs.

[X1Glider]

They are using BMWs.

Yes.  One of the guys on the Two Wheel Texans site I frequent is one of those that pushed for it and gets to ride one.  Not a bad job IMO.

Would be nice to see it in Houston next.  When it takes 2 hours to drive 40 miles and the interstate comes to a standstill, you need this or you'll never get to the site in time.

[yotes65]

No lane splitting in Texas.

Like that would ever stop a cop or ambulance driver from doing that!

agreed...

[miles]

Like that would ever stop a cop or ambulance driver from doing that!


agreed...

Y'all need ta grow a sense a huma, now doncha?

[yotes65]

My "Agreed" comment was not a dig towards Medic's or LEO's.... hell I see the AZ DPS always using the shoulder when trying to get to a accident. It's their job to respond as quickly as possible. I know if I was the one they were responded to I would want them there as quickly as possible.

[Dave.TX]

Like that would ever stop a cop or ambulance driver from doing that!

Traffic laws like lane splitting don't apply to emergency vehicles, hence why the bikes are equipped with lights (and I guess a siren) along with graphics.

Being an LEO in TX when you're running lights and sirens people do moronic things when you come up behind them. All we ask is for everyone to move to the right. Some people will just come to a dead stop. Trying to get through traffic code 3 isn't as easy as it may seem.

If you're being humorous about the remarks then I'm not chastising.   I think the bikes are a good idea.

[Kneescrubber]

Hey Dave. I used to live at the corner of Upper Elgin Rd & Monkey Rd about 30 years ago.

[photojojo]

I was just wondering the other day if we had any of these.

[cbsnbiker]

I like the fact that motorcycles are being used to help save lives.