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EMS House of DeFrance http://www.emshouse.com Reading Rotunda Courtesy the EMS House of DeFrance http://www.defrance.org The fatal accident involving Metro Officer James Manor brought a lot of attention to emergency vehicles and their use of lights and sirens Different departments have their own protocol when it comes to using their lights and sirens. American Medical Response is paving the way here in southern Nevada as the first to use a new safety feature, making sure other drivers see, hear, and even feel them coming. It's what we're supposed to do when emergency vehicles approach with lights and sirens: safely pull over out of the way. But as News 3's cameras captured, some drivers don't always obey the laws of the road. "The most common hurdle that we see is distraction inside the vehicle, whether it be a cell phone (or) car stereo," says Chad Henry, AMR. Now with the flip of a switch, crews with American Medical Response (AMR) activate the "rumbler." "The product itself is, simply, a very high-powered subwoofer. What it does is project down towards the ground and directly in front of the vehicle. Because you have enhanced sense of, not only (the) audible changes (with the) siren itself, you have vibrations to capture drivers' attention. It helps clear the intersection." Operations manager Chad Henry is proud to say that AMR is the first in Las Vegas to use the rumbler. They currently has six ambulances equipped with the rumbler system and their goal is to add another 12 by the end of the year. And because AMR crews respond to an average of 400 calls per day, this technology has become a much-needed safety tool. Maria Silva: As you've been able to use it, do you notice the difference? Henry: When you're going to respond to a call, there is a significant difference. We've seen a dramatic reduction in obstacles and safety concerns that our crews face when they clear an intersection. Another safety feature AMR is implementing is LED lights which will be more visible during the day and night. They're also adding reflective stickers on their ambulances.
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