There are actually so many types of ambulances!

The most common type of ambulance we see on the road is the transport ambulance, an ambulance that is equipped with common emergency medical equipment and first aid medication, and is able to provide simple emergency treatment to the sick and injured at the scene.

Of course, this type of ambulance can only provide rescue and transport for patients with less severe conditions. It represents the most basic type of ambulance and is widely deployed in various hospitals and emergency stations. Its main task is to quickly transport patients to hospitals for treatment. In summary, its function is to transfer patients, so it is sometimes referred to as a transport ambulance.

Since there are ambulances primarily tasked with swiftly transporting patients, there are also ambulances primarily focused on timely rescuing and providing care to injured or ill individuals. These are known as emergency intensive care ambulances, which undertake more emergency medical tasks compared to transport ambulances.

Therefore, it is equipped with more emergency resuscitation and rescue equipment as well as a greater variety of medications. This allows for on-site rescue operations or urgent medical treatment while en route to the hospital. 

Because for some patients, time is of the essence, and they are in a race against death. The earlier the treatment, the quicker they can escape from life-threatening situations.

Specialized Emergency Transportation Missions

As the name suggests, specialized emergency missions are not routine emergency tasks. During rescue or transportation, some additional actions may be required. Of course, they also shoulder basic emergency tasks, equipped with essential emergency medical equipment or more.

-  Negative Pressure Ambulance  

This is a type of ambulance specifically designed to treat or transport individuals with infectious diseases or other special conditions that pose a risk of infection. It utilizes fluid dynamics and other knowledge to lower the air pressure inside the vehicle compared to the external pressure, ensuring that air can only flow in one direction: from outside the vehicle to inside.

This not only controls the scope of the bacterial source but also ensures that these harmful contaminants are not retransmitted. In addition, the air inside the vehicle needs to undergo sterilization, disinfection, and harmless treatment before being discharged outside the vehicle, further preventing bacterial transmission and cross-infection.

These types of ambulances are extensively deployed in regions with high influenza incidence or outbreaks of infectious diseases. Of course, the negative pressure effect is gradually being popularized in ambulances, and this technology, which effectively isolates bacteria, should be widely equipped in basic ambulances.

- All-Terrain Off-Road Ambulance

This type of ambulance is one of the most capable vehicles in the world to navigate through complex terrains. When roads collapse or become impassable, regular ambulances have no means of passage. This is especially true in the aftermath of severe disasters like earthquakes, landslides, or in extreme environments such as deserts, plateaus, or polar regions where there are no conventional roads. In such scenarios, where normal access is impossible, only these vehicles can provide the first-line rescue efforts.

Of course, this is mainly due to its outstanding all-terrain off-road capabilities. It is also equipped with the same emergency medical equipment and essential medications as regular ambulances. Sometimes, special protective suits are also provided to emergency personnel for use during medical procedures.

-Large-scale medical supplies supply vehicle

In addition to the general transportation of wounded and sick personnel and the ambulance for treating them, there are also disaster relief and rescue trucks similar to fire trucks, which are responsible for timely supply of essential goods during public health emergencies. It can simultaneously supply materials to treat 50-100 people.

If there is no logistical supply for a long time, it can continuously support about 60 emergency personnel to live outdoors for about 3 days. After all, the supplies carried on one vehicle are limited, but in general tasks, one vehicle is sufficient for supply. However, in the event of a major natural disaster such as an earthquake, several large medical supply vehicles are needed to complete the supply.

-Mobile communications command vehicle

During major disasters, without a central command center for coordination and command, the emergency efficiency of ambulances will be greatly reduced. They can transmit first-hand data in real-time through satellite, microwave, and shortwave communication. Additionally, they are equipped with power supply devices and can also provide extensive lighting for nighttime rescue operations. Their main role is to regulate overall control, coordinate resources, and facilitate real-time communication, making them a crucial type of ambulance.

Different types of ambulances undertake different rescue missions. In small and medium-sized rescue tasks, different ambulances are assigned different tasks, thereby dividing the rescue efforts. In large-scale rescue operations, they are coordinated and cooperatively dispatched under unified command to the best of their abilities to treat and transport injured and sick individuals, completing emergency rescue tasks.