Possible Stryker Delays

We have been notified that some customers may be experiencing delays with Stryker Power-LOAD orders. These delays are attributed to a hydraulic fluid vendor change at Stryker. We are advising customers that Stryker lead times are approx. 16 weeks. In some situations, if there are delays, we may recommend the installation of the floor plate and Stryker will install the Power-LOAD when it is delivered. Safety and quality are of the highest concern at both Stryker and Frazer. During this time special care is being taken to ensure quality and testing. We are working directly with Stryker to improve delivery times for any Stryker Power-LOAD orders. If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to your Regional Sales Manager. CONTACT SALES

Hurricane Ian Support

Frazer is ready to help our Florida customers impacted by Hurricane Ian. The National Hurricane Center expects Hurricane Ian to gain strength and become a potentially damaging hurricane that could make landfall in Florida in the coming days. The Frazer Florida Service Center will remain open to provide support and assistance to our customers in Florida and the surrounding areas. Here are some important numbers to remember. Florida Service Center 4462 Lafayette StMarianna, Florida 32446Phone: (850) 724-1112Email: [email protected] Houston Service Center 6021 Jessamine StHouston, Texas 77081Phone: (888) 372-9371Email: [email protected] Official Service Center Network We have partnered with several service centers across the country to help you with most service needs. If you are in need of service, please see our official list of Service Centers or call us toll-free (888) 372-9371

Right Size It! Optimize Your Fleet Size with a Vehicle Replacement Strategy.

Over the last 18 months, nearly every aspect of local government has been dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During these times, our local emergency medical services (EMS) systems are one of our most affected entities. We’ve heard from many EMS leaders that have seen call volumes double or even triple overnight! Many departments have not planned for a dramatic increase in demand like this, and are now dealing with shortages of vehicles, equipment, and staff. Today, fleet planning and implementation have taken on a new level of importance, here’s why… Vehicle Replacement Strategy Today’s reality is, past experience may not be as reliable in predicting tomorrow’s needs as it once was. A replacement plan is deliberate and should be in place before that shiny new unit is ordered. It’s essential that agencies create an Apparatus Replacement Strategy that focuses on balancing equipment needs with your present and anticipated future demands for service. Achieving an optimal Vehicle Replacement Strategy considers multiple factors and is revisited often. Some factors may include current and future Peak Staffing Levels, unit hour utilization, anticipated population growth, shifting demographics, transport distances, opening or closing of facilities, shifting weather patterns, etc. Of these factors, Peak Staffing Level is one of the most straightforward but misunderstood planning elements. Peak Staffing Level is defined as the highest concurrent number of staffed units on duty on a regular / planned basis. Many agencies consider an optimal fleet size as 1.5 fully equipped and mission capable units per Peak Staffing Level. Equation: Peak # of units x 1.5 = X, then round up. A rural community, for example, has three units in its fleet. They run approximately 400 calls per year, and usually, transport 2 miles into their local small hospital, or 12 miles into the larger community’s Hospital with a Level III trauma center. They have mutual aid available with an average response time of 30 minutes as needed. They occasionally need to transport to the larger city 35 miles away for specialty care. Since the time on task is lengthy they try to use on-call crews to backfill or handle the transport. They also regularly schedule and staff a dedicated unit at most high school athletic events, the annual county fair, and the Labor Day town festival. This does not include any unusual surges due to an unplanned natural disaster or the occasional unplanned busy day. With this schedule, their Peak Staffing Level is three. With only three units, routine maintenance is often delayed or cut short during busy times or special events season. Crews are reluctant to switch out of the “primary” unit because both “reserves” are unreliable, uncomfortable, or have suboptimal performance. The situation festers until the primary unit suffers a catastrophic transmission failure, and is intensified when the second unit has a deer strike that took out the radiator. In the blink of an eye, the community is in an equipment crisis. Using the equation of 1.5 units per Peak Staffed Unit (rounded up), the community would have avoided this crisis and may have even avoided the costly and lengthy transmission replacement by comfortably having all units inspected and serviced prior to the failure. Eddie Calendar knows the importance of fleet size and staffing. What About Reserve Units? Many EMS agencies are stuck in the traditional “front line” and “reserve” fleet management, which has been in use for as long as there has been fire apparatus. The fundamental difference between Fire and EMS apparatus is that EMS apparatus will often “wear out” based on mileage, where many Fire apparatus (especially support and specialty apparatus) will “age out”. A 20-year-old Type 6 Engine with 40,000 miles is usually far more serviceable and reliable than a 15-year-old ambulance with 300,000 miles. A more successful and cost-effective fleet strategy for EMS is to maintain a fleet where ANY unit is fully mission-capable and all units are regularly rotated into service on a regular basis. Using a strategy like this will balance out fleet mileage, allow for regular equipment inspection and when surges hit, EVERY unit will be ready to respond. Does your agency use Reserve Units? How has that practice evolved over time to influence your Fleet Size? We’d love to hear your thoughts. New vs Remounting If you’ve needed to replace an EMS vehicle in your fleet over the last year and a half, then you may have considered remounting. Remounting is where we remove your Frazer module from the existing chassis and mount it onto a newer chassis. If chassis procurement is not an issue, then remounting may be a better use of funds during times where materials and equipment costs are increased. It also may be a good option if your department uses Reserve Units as they can be great candidates for remounting. More on Fleet Sizes Determining the right number of fleet vehicles requires analyzing multiple potential factors. To learn more about our thoughts on Fleet Size, read our Fleet Size Matters article.

All Frazer Vehicles to Include HAAS Safety Alert

All new and remounted EMS vehicles built after August 2021 will include three years of Safety Cloud® R2V Frazer, Ltd., a leader of generator-powered custom EMS vehicles, will include three years of HAAS Alert’s Responder-to-Vehicle (R2V) digital alerting service. This feature will come as a standard, zero-cost safety solution on all new and remounted vehicles. HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud platform provides motorists with real-time alerts when approaching an equipped Frazer EMS vehicle with its emergency lights activated. In addition, Frazer will make Safety Cloud’s Responder-to-Responder (R2R) collision preventionl service available as an add-on safety solution to customers. Both of the R2V and R2R solutions can be retrofitted on existing EMS vehicles as desired. Safety Cloud’s R2V alerts are delivered to motorists through in-vehicle systems and navigation applications. The alerts give drivers clear advance warning and more time to safely slow down and move over. Safety Cloud has delivered 1 billion digital alerts through the popular navigation app Waze, with more partners on the way. Safety Cloud’s R2R alerts are received by emergency vehicles in the immediate proximity of other responding emergency vehicles connected to Safety Cloud. These alerts reduce the risk of crashes by up to 90% by providing critical advance warnings to drivers. Adam Fischer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Frazer, said that integrating Safety Cloud as a standard feature demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the safety of our customers. “For years Frazer has taken pride in designing, engineering and building our vehicles to provide medics and their patients with an ergonomic environment that will keep them safe in the event of a collision. It’s now time we make the investment in new technologies to prevent those very collisions. Adding Safety Cloud as an additional layer of protection will keep vehicles in service longer and, most importantly, increase the safety of the medical professionals and patients inside our vehicles.” Adam Fischer – VP of Sales & Marketing Jeremy Agulnek, HAAS Alert’s Senior Vice President of Connected Vehicle, praised Frazer’s commitment to innovation and leadership in safety. “Frazer’s decision to make digital alerting a standard feature on its EMS vehicles for three years is going to impact communities nationwide. Digital alerting saves lives, and Frazer understands the risk that EMS professionals face on every run. This is an investment in safety for responders, roads, and everyone that relies on them.” To learn more about Safety Cloud on your Frazer EMS vehicle(s), contact your Frazer sales representative or [email protected]. About Frazer We listen to our customers and hear their challenges. Then, we utilize our 65 years of experience to solve the challenges in the ever-evolving landscape of pre-hospital care. We specialize in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles suitable for licensing and use as Ambulances, First Responder Vehicles, Mobile Clinics, and Mobile Stroke Units. Our company provides world-class after-sale service, a lower overall cost of ownership, an advanced HVAC system, versatile power options, and now proudly offers HAAS Alert’s Digital Alerting Safety Service standard on every new or remounted unit! For more information, visit www.frazerbilt.com. About HAAS Alert HAAS Alert’s mission is to build lifesaving mobility solutions to make vehicles and roads safer and smarter. Our vision is a connected, collision-free world where everyone gets home safely. HAAS Alert makes roads and communities safer by delivering digital alerts from emergency response and other municipal fleets to nearby drivers. The company streams real-time alerts and other vital safety information to motorists and connected cars via in-vehicle and navigation systems when emergency vehicles are approaching and on-scene. For more information, visit www.haasalert.com.

Disinfecting EMS Vehicles with Ultraviolet Light

UV-C Disinfection Lamp for Emergency Vehicles Emergency vehicles are designed to help the sick and injured, but now a specially designed light for disinfecting EMS vehicles has flipping the switch on that idea and helping prevent sickness before it starts! UV-C Disinfection Lamp Kills Germs to Prevent Colds and the Flu The ADU-136 UV-C Air and Surface Disinfection Lamp, made by EvergreenUV, uses the “c” wavelength of the sun to kill germs inside an EMS vehicle to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and viruses like colds and the flu. The product is sold by EA Medical, LLC and can be easily mounted to the ceiling of an EMS module. UV-C Disinfecting Lamps Installed in Fleet of Frazer EMS Vehicles Frazer recently installed UV-C disinfection lamps in 18 EMS vehicles for the San Antonio Fire Department . Fire Engineer William Shannon Weeks says the department was looking for a better way to decontaminate emergency vehicles from not only everyday viruses, but viruses more serious like Ebola.  In 2014, three people were diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas, Texas. The original patient and a nurse were both transported by emergency vehicle. A CDC report found that one of the Dallas EMS vehicles transported 10 more patients before it was completely cleaned and disinfected. Weeks says, “Our administration really looked at the UV light as able to get into the different cracks and crevices as well as something we can reliably use throughout our units.” UV-C Light Scientifically Proven to Reduce Healthcare Acquired Infections Neal Zeid with EA Medical, LLC says UV-C is a natural disinfection that is scientifically proven to reduce healthcare acquired infections and kill pathogens including C.diff and MRSA. “We can reduce healthcare acquired infections from spreading from 32 to 37-percent when it compliments the current cleaning regimen that they (EMS crews) do.” The UV-C disinfection lamp is EPA approved. Zeid adds that “anywhere the light can bounce, it can disinfect. This includes shadowed areas as well.” The UV-C light disrupts the DNA of microorganisms destroying their ability to reproduce. However, the UV-C light does not destroy or deteriorate supplies, equipment or medications. Weeks, who works with the San Antonio Fire Department, finds this highly beneficial.  “You don’t have to worry about medications… the seats or the equipment being broken down.” He says another benefit is that the UV-C disinfection system is “easy to use”. How the UV-C Decontamination System Works: Crews press a black button on an EvergreenUV control box mounted inside. The UV-C disinfection lamp turns on, casting a blue color. Disinfection of the EMS module begins! Decontamination takes about 15-20 minutes. The best part? It’s all set on a timer. If the crew needs to leave for a call, the decontamination process can be easily stopped by opening a door and restarted later. The UV-C bulbs have a 9,000 hour germination lamp life. The decontamination process can be done weekly, daily, or even after every patient call.  Similar UV-C Decontamination Systems Found in Hospitals Many hospitals have added UV-C disinfection machines and systems to operating rooms and to other key areas of their hospital following new legislation after the Ebola scare.  Want More Information? Neal Zeid from EA Medical, LLC talks in depth about the technology behind the UV-C disinfection lamp and how it works to stop the spread of diseases and illnesses. LEARN about the features of EvergreenUV’s ADU-136 UV-C Air and Surface Disinfection Lamp.

Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

CDC launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a new national campaign designed to motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives. Handwashing is important for everyone! Learn about the CDC’s New Handwashing Campaign and download free materials to remind people in your life about the importance of handwashing. When & How to Wash Your Hands Show Me the Science Life is Better with Clean Hands Handwashing: A Family Activity Handwashing: A Healthy Habit in the Kitchen LEARN MORE

Ambulance Stretchers – A Brief Overview

The changes in stretcher technology over the years show a radical move toward safety for both patients and medics. We field questions about these products on a daily basis so here are some points to consider when choosing the right product for your department. Power Is The Key While undercarriage and frame design have made huge leaps over the years, and construction materials have gotten stronger but lighter, the introduction of powered cot lift mechanisms has arguably been the biggest game changer. With back injuries accounting for a substantial percentage of  job related injuries for Fire and EMS personnel (numbers range from 20% up to 70% depending on the data source), these new stretcher systems aim to help reduce those measurably.  Power Cot Features Styker and Ferno each offer a powered cot capable of carrying 700 lbs. According to each company’s marketing literature, here are some specs worth considering: Stryker Ferno Length 81 in. 80 in. Width 23 in. 24 in. Load Height 36 in. max 36 in. max Cot Weight 125 lb 143 lb Carrying Capacity 700 lb 700 lb Unassisted Lift Capacity 500 lb 700 lb Warranty 2 years 2 years As with most products, people will have their particular preferences, and cots are not different. Frazer can accommodate systems from either manufacturer and is happy to work with the stretcher of your choice. You can learn more about the available stretcher options and features for Ferno and Stryker by clicking on the provided links. Retention and Loading Options Stryker and Ferno both have manual cot retention systems that meet the current SAE J3027 requirements present in the major standards documents, KKK-A-1822, NFPA 1917, and CAAS 2.0. All are designed to minimize cot drift inside the module and during transport and represent significant upgrades from the older antler and bar designs. Ferno Ferno offers three different models, all of which are SAE J3027 compliant. According to the Ferno literature, the Stat Trac works with their PowerFlexx+ST Cot and their 35XST ProFlexx Cot. The iNLINE retention system is built for use with the Ferno iNX cot and features charging capabilities as well as the ability to interchange with both Ferno and Stryker PowerLoad floor plates. Finally, the Ferno PRO F1 universal cot fastener is designed for cross compatibility and can be used with a variety of both Ferno and Stryker cots. Click on any of the links for more details from the manufacturer. Stryker Stryker currently offers two SAE J3027 compliant stretcher fastener systems. Their first, the Performance- LOAD, is a manual system designed for use with the Power Pro-XT, Performance Pro-XT, and Power Pro-IT cots. The Performance Load also provides an upgrade path to the Power-LOAD. Power-LOAD works with Stryker’s Power-Pro XT cot and actually lifts the cot into the patient compartment for the medic. Click on any of the links for details from the manufacturer. You can also click here to see info on the Technimount Safety Arm System for use with Stryker products. What About My Legacy Equipment? Both manufacturers still show their “Antler and Bar” systems on their respective websites (click here for Stryker; click here for Ferno) but those systems do not appear to be compliant with current ambulance standards which reference SAE J3207. Contact your rep to be sure of current availability for your existing fleet. Any new vehicles built to the governing standards will come equipped with one of the aforementioned new fastener systems. Bottom Line Ferno and Stryker have both served the EMS industry for a number of years and each has offerings that will appeal to your service based on numerous different factors. These upgraded systems and safety features do come with a considerable cost increase, so if you haven’t looked at them in a bit, be prepared for that. Contact your local rep for in depth information or you can call someone on our Sales Team at 888-372-9371 for help in making your decision. 

Ambulance Safety Standards

We frequently hear the question, “Can you build to any of the safety standards?” Like any reputable builder in the ambulance industry the answer is of course we can and do. However, the standards landscape has changed substantially over time and now there are a few more things to consider. A Brief History of the Ambulance Standard Probably the most widely known ambulance safety standard is KKK-A-1822, commonly known as Triple-K, and presently on version F. Put forth in 1974 by the General Services Administration of the United States, Triple-K sought to establish a minimum safety and design standard for ambulances purchased with federal funds.  In the ensuing years, as many as 30 states ended up adopting this standard as the baseline for vehicle procurement. Of course that meant there were still a number of states that didn’t mandate using Triple K in the procurement process. In these cases, agencies typically left those design and safety decisions up to the local EMS department and their expertise. This was the case for many years in our home state of Texas, for example. The Rise of the New Standards Over time other organizations added elements to the foundation set in Triple K. The Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) created a set of performance standards that helped ensure consistency in the realm of testing procedures that referred back to the Triple K specification. Since 2002, the K spec has referenced these 25 standards promulgated by the AMD. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) began work in 2008 on a set of specifications for ambulances. This represented a natural outgrowth of an increasing set of circumstances which saw municipal Fire Departments adding EMS under their umbrella. NFPA describes standard 1917 as follows: Developed with consideration of the Federal Specification KKK-A-1822 and NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, NFPA 1917 defines the minimum requirements for the design, performance, and testing of new automotive ambulances intended for use under emergency conditions to provide medical treatment and transportation of sick or injured people to appropriate medical facilities. nfpa.org In 2013, the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) started reviewing the existing ambulance specifications with the goal of establishing a consensus based set of standards of their own. CAAS received certification from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a Standards Developer in late 2015 and published version 1.0 of their Ground Vehicles Standard effective July 1, 2016. Version 2.0, the current revision, is available here. Additional Input All of these standards had heavy input from industry leaders as well as groups like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE), and the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO).  A great deal of design, testing, data analysis, and more has gone into the creation of all the different standards and represents a significant step forward in terms of the number of voices in the discussion and stakeholders at the table. So Now What? We hear current and potential customers consistently asking about which standard they should choose to build to, which one will be best for their department, and even which standard applies in their jurisdiction. Another big question surrounds the certification of remounts. As of this writing, both NFPA 1917 and CAAS GVS v2.0 address remounts within their respective standards. It is now up to the state regulatory bodies to consider adopting the standard in their entirety, including the remount section, or some portion of the standard. And while Frazer builds certified and tested vehicles to all the different specifications, we recognize that each department must meet different needs and will have to tailor that choice based on the challenges and mission as they see it, or will simply have to adopt whatever standard their state has decided will be in force.  In Texas, for example, the state has refrained from saying which standard a department must choose, only that they must choose one. This approach makes sure that agencies at least meet a minimum set of  performance and construction standards, but lets them work with the one that best meets their individual needs. Texas has also, for the meantime, refrained from requiring remounts to meet a current standard. If you already know the standard in force for your department, rest assured Frazer can build your vehicle to meet those requirements. You can click here to read more thorough descriptions of the different standards and their history. Your state Office of EMS is the final authority regarding what applies to you, but if you’re having difficulty navigating those waters, a Sales Team member can help research those requirements. We can also walk you through some of the major and minor differences among the different specs, and depending on your local requirements, help give you a sense of which one might best fit.

LifeDefender Cabinets

New LifeDefender Cabinets – designed to meet, or exceed new safety standards. As an Emergency Services Provider, the safety and well being of your patients is of the utmost importance. It’s also critical to know that your equipment remains safe and secure during patient transport. At Frazer, we take safety very seriously and are continually improving our offerings so that you may provide the care your patients deserve. LifeDefender by Austin Hardware Check out the new LifeDefender cabinets by Austin Hardware. These cabinets offer many safety features and are designed to meet, or exceed the many new safety standards, including SAE J3058. They feature a sliding access frame that increases the safety of your vehicle, due to their latching mechanisms and reinforced structure. Other Features Include Easy Restocking Feature Hinged Door Design Easy Opening Slam Closing with Auto-latching Feature Reinforced Frame Corners  We’ve recently incorporated these cabinets and other safety features in customer units like District of Columbia Fire & EMS. Watch as Adam walks through the unit, highlighting the many safety features. Call: (888) FRAZER1

Weekly Update – Safety Moment!

It’s Monday – Stay Safe Everyone! A new week has begun! Here you can see one of our Documentation employees with their Personal Protective Equipment taking photographs of a new unit before it leaves the shop. Here at Frazer we are absolutely committed to safety. We strive not only to improve our safety and our environment every day, but also challenge ourselves to work new angles of safety into every aspect of what we do. We don’t just want to build safe and reliable EMS vehicles, we want to do it in the safest way possible for our team! Click here to learn more about Frazer’s commitment to safety!

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Keep yourself informed about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas which interferes with the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. CO is non-irritating and can overcome persons without warning. Many people die from CO poisoning, usually while using gasoline powered tools and generators in buildings or semi-enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation. Below is a collection of resources that will help you stay informed about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide. Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. What to Know: Generators and CO (Carbon Monoxide).

Frazer Completes Stage I of OSHA Challenge

Good news. We’ve completed Stage I of the OSHA VPP Challenge. On May 31st, 2013, Mark Briggs, Area Director of the Houston South Area Office, presented us with a congratulatory letter on behalf of OSHA. He also spoke about the unique nature of our company. “This is a very unique product,” said Briggs. “I never thought that a product like this was made here.” He added: “I’m very proud of you all. I’m proud that you guys have made it through Stage I. I look forward to coming back here in the future.” Cindy Lewis of Gulf Coast Safety Institute and Challenge Administrator also praised our efforts. “I’ve been very impressed with the progress we’ve made,” she said. “I think it’s been interesting, too. It’s fun to see how you guys do this.” She echoed Mr. Briggs’ sentiment that Frazer is a unique company with a unique product. “Now as I’m driving down the road and I see an ambulance go by, what’s the first thing I look for? It’s that little logo on the back of the ambulance,” said Lewis. “Now awareness has gone up — and it’s the same thing with safety.” There are three stages in OSHA Challenge, each bringing us a step closer to the ultimate honor in workplace safety. One down, two more to go. Bring on Stage II.