Dubai muscle car ambulances are not only smart but fast

The Desert Response Smart Ambulance at Dubai Health Live. Victor Besa for The National

DUBAI // You've seen the ever-expanding fleet of police supercars. Now, it seems ambulances are getting in on the act, with rescue vehicles that are sure to get to the scene at speed.

Smart ambulances loaded up with the latest healthcare technology are delivering life-saving treatment fast via a fleet of muscle cars and specially modified emergency vehicles in Dubai.

The fleet of cars, bikes and trucks were on display at Digital Health Live at Dubai World Trade Centre alongside the latest innovations in health care. A Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang and Lotus Evora equipped with everything needed to offer first aid on the ground are the latest additions to the Dubai Ambulance Service. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle is also equipped with first-aid equipment to help fight through traffic to attend a crash scene.

Hareb Yenish is a fast-responding paramedic who drives one of the muscle cars for Dubai Ambulance Service.

“The cars have everything they need to treat patients at the scene before an ambulance arrives,” he said.

“The idea is that the public will see them and be confident we are capable of arriving at the scene to help patients quickly.”

Solar panels help power carbon fibre smart ambulances on the road, each with wide-ranging diagnostic equipment to pass on patient information quickly to waiting hospital doctors.

Other advancements in Dubai’s fast-response unit include antibacterial non-slip flooring and more headroom inside the rear of ambulances big enough for two paramedics and a driver. A mobile unit is also able to be deployed to a crisis site to help manage large-scale casualties, with full X-ray and ultrasound facilities on board.

Off-road 4x4s that carry bicycles are also part of the fleet and are designed to treat patients in need of care in the desert, or rugged, hard-to-reach areas. Sara Al Haddad, a paramedic for four years, said constant training helped staff keep on top of the latest innovations to help save more lives.

“The medical buses can also be used as field hospitals, so we are well equipped to deal with any crisis situation that may arise,” she said.

“We don’t take more than 15 minutes with patients.”