FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brea, California - January 16, 2003 - More than 55 Motorola HT 1000 Series handheld radios have been assigned to emergency medical technicians (EMT's) in the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego County operations of Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (Emergency). The radios are the most recent addition to Emergency's extensive portfolio of integrated communications and information tools.
The HT1000 radios augment the existing two-way radio systems that Emergency's field employees had previously relied upon. Now, each team member on an ambulance is provided with a portable radio. They provide instantaneous push-to-talk radio communication, which greatly improves employee safety, particularly in the 9-1-1-service environment.
"This new system releases our EMT's from dependence on vehicle-mounted technology and enables them to relay information to our emergency communications dispatchers in real time," said Scott Pipkin, Emergency's director of communications and information technology. "Although we have just begun system roll-out company-wide, it already has had a dramatic impact on employee morale." "Employees are now able to contact dispatch for help at any time from any place."
Emergency first began working towards its plan to equip each on duty field employee with a handheld radio in 2001. Emergency recently contracted with Motorola's government sales division to provide the HT 1000 handheld radios, in addition to other equipment scheduled for rollout in February of 2003. One of the features most important to EMT's is the HT 1000's rugged design, which enables it to function reliably in the harsh ambulance service environment.
"The radios make dedicated two-way communications faster, clearer, and easier to use, and most importantly provide Emergency's employees the capacity to have instant communication," said Jim Karras, general manager of Emergency Ambulance Service. "This is a huge improvement in employee safety, and I'm very proud that Emergency is the first company in the area to take this step forward."
Family-owned and operated since 1977, Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. has 16 ambulance deployment centers located throughout southern California. Emergency provides Emergency Basic Life Support and Nurse-Staffed Critical Care Transportation in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties; and Advanced Life Support ambulance service throughout Los Angeles County. The company also provides 911 primary emergency ambulance services to six of the cities it operates in, as well as providing back up 911 service to several surrounding communities.
For further information contact:
Chad Druten, Director, Government Affairs
Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc.
3200 East Birch Street, Suite A
Brea, CA 92821-6258
Tel: (714) 990-1742
Fax: (714) 792-3650
E-mail: ChadDruten@emergencyambulance.com
URL: http://www.emergencyambulance.com
###