Why Every Ambulance Needs a Swivel Front Car Seat

A swivel front car seat in an ambulance is a must-have, especially when talking about every second is crucial to the well-being of a patient. Emergency services require quick and unobstructed access to the patient, with a swivel seat aiding in the same.

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A traditional front car seat is cumbersome to get out of, with a slight chance of tripping as one gets out of the same. Let’s have a detailed look at what a swivel front seat is, how it is beneficial for emergency services and why every Ambulance should be fitted with one.

What is a swivel front car seat? How does it work?

A swivel car seat is specially designed to rotate and pivot towards the open door, increasing the accessibility of the vehicle. The mechanism of a swivel seat is such that it reduces the physical strain on one whilst entering or exiting the said vehicle.

Getting into a regular car seat requires a person to move awkwardly and involves bending and lifting of the lower body. With a swivel seat, all the movements are eliminated as the car seat essentially presents itself as a chair, resting on the sills of a car.

Depending on the model of the swivel seat, it can rotate anywhere between 90⁰ and 360⁰. The model also decides whether the seat lowers once pivoted outside of the car.

The JCBL Mobility Orbit Roll Swivel seat has the feature of converting into a wheelchair once it rotates outside the car, further increasing the accessibility and convenience.

What are the benefits of equipping an ambulance with a swivel front car seat?

There are multiple benefits, both for the emergency services personnel as well as the patient, when an ambulance is equipped with a front swivel seat. These include improved patient access and reduced strain on the emergency services personnel. Let’s have a look at these benefits in detail.

Improved Patient Access for the Front-Seat Medic

A regular front seat limits the access of the medic sitting in the front of the ambulance. A swivel front car seat, which rotates 360⁰, allows the medic faster and easier access to the patient in the back of the ambulance. The medic doesn’t have to hassle his way or get the ambulance to stop to get into the back.

For critical procedures like airway management, CPR assistance, IV monitoring, and handing over equipment mid-transport, a swivel seat provides the benefit for the front medic of just turning around and providing assistance to rear medics.

Saving Critical Seconds for Patient Care

The above-mentioned procedures are time-critical, with every passing second increasing the risk. A swivel front car seat allows the front medic to turn around without unbuckling the seat belt or making the awkward manoeuvre to get into the back, saving those critical few seconds.

Reducing Paramedic Injury and Physical Strain

Twisting in a fixed seat for the front medic over the duration of a day could lead to fatigue and physical strain. In the longer run, the same can lead to musculoskeletal risks. The excessive stress on the neck, shoulders and back to turn back, over a long duration, can lead to injuries to the medic. A swivel seat eliminated the same, as the front seat can automatically or manually rotate to face the back of the ambulance.

Enhancing Communication Between the Cab and Patient Compartment

In critical situations like saving a patient’s life, communication is key. However, the front medic, who’s turned the other way (i.e. facing the front), makes communication harder. Whether it is hearing what his colleagues in the background are saying or giving instructions.

With a swivel seat, a medic in the front can effectively communicate, with his hand gestures and facial expressions being clearly visible. Instead of vocally giving an instruction, one can also use hands to point or explain certain things in the emergency scenario.

How to Install a Swivel Front Car Seat in an Ambulance

Multiple OEMs offer a swivel front car seat as an option when the order for the ambulance is placed. In some models, it’s offered from the base variant. However, if an institute has an ambulance without a swivel front seat, one has the option of getting it retrofitted from the OEM, or ordering an aftermarket one.

Steps for a swivel car seat installation are as follows –

Disconnect the battery and the seat wiring
Remove the OEM seat with the brackets
Add the swivel seat bracket
Reattach the seat and make the wiring connections for the swivel seat
Connect the battery and check the operations

Factors to Keep in Mind while Choosing Swivel Front Car Seat For Ambulance

Along with the factors like safety compliance and compatibility with the vehicle, certain extra things have to be kept in mind when installing a swivel seat in an ambulance. These factors include: