EMSA grant to study big rigs as ambulances

Sunday, October 10th 2004, 2:56 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A federal grant will allow the Oklahoma City Emergency Medical Services Authority to study whether a tractor-trailer rig can be converted into an ambulance.

The 400-thousand dollar grant is from the U-S Department of Homeland Security. The idea is to see if a big rig could serve as a disaster ambulance for up to 40 patients.

The grant is part of 46-point-2 (M) million dollars in grants doled out by the Homeland Security Department. The money went to 110 agencies to prepare for weapons of mass destruction threats and mass casualty incidents.

Tulsa and Oklahoma City each received 400-thousand dollars.

Tulsa EMSA received funding to increase emergency responders' ability to treate pediatric cases, including the psychological impact on victims and responders.