What is an Ambulance?
An ambulance is a vehicle designed to transport people who need medical attention. An ambulance provides emergency care to injured or sick people and helps them to get them to the hospital. Ambulances are also used to transport patients between the hospitals.
Ambulances contain the necessary items or equipment that are needed to stabilize the person who is injured or sick and to get them to the hospital. It includes oxygen and oxygen masks, cervical collars, splints, spine boards, stretchers, bandages, a range of drugs, and IV drips. They are staffed by a trained crew.
People know the concept of the emergency ambulance where an ambulance is used to move patients in critical condition to the emergency room in the hospital. In most counties ambulances are given priority on the road, knowing that time is the essence is when moving critically ill or injured patients.
An ambulance was originated in the military, which does not sound surprising since military services carry an increased risk of being critically injured.
There are several types of ambulances that are specially equipped-
- Vans
- Motorbikes
- Four-wheel drives
- Airplanes
- Helicopter
Air ambulances are mainly used in rural areas, wilderness areas, or some certain types of emergency. In the vehicles, fuels have to be readily available and the vehicles must be in good condition and working well. Services facilities are the ones who will do that.
In ancient times sick people, injured and patients, in general, were transported by carts.
What is Ambulette?
An ambulette is a vehicle that is used to transport people for medical attention but not in a lifesaving serious critical situation. It can be also called a vehicle to transport disabled people, a van, or some other similar vehicle for transporting people who have limited mobility such as patients being bounded in a wheelchair in non-emergency situations.
An ambulette is just like an ambulette but they are not used for emergency needs. They are not used to life-threatening situations since they are not equipped with life support systems and drugs. Wheelchair ramps and hydraulic lifts are seen in an ambulette. Ambulettes does not have trained paramedical staff. Although there could be flashlights fitted on an ambulance, sirens are not used to present as there is no emergency or urgency. An ambulette is comparatively bigger than an ambulance.
Ambulette service is ideal for people who do not want to be involved in intensive medical care while they are in transit. It is required for transferring disabled people who are not in some type of urgent emergency. Some localities provide ambulette services for disabled people for their fundamental requirements such as weekly grocery assistance, trips to the office or bank, going to appointments, etc.
Difference Between Ambulance and Ambulette
- Ambulances are used for carrying patients who are in life-threatening situations whereas ambulettes are vehicles for carrying disabled people.
- The ambulance does use sirens to indicate the emergency lifesaving situation on the other hand ambulettes does not use sirens since it does not indicate any life-threatening situation.
- Ambulances are equipped with a life support system and a range of drugs whereas Ambulettes do not contain any life support system. Usually contains wheelchairs and hydraulic lifts.
- The ambulance will have trained medical staff, para-medical staff, whereas para-medical staffs are not available with ambulettes.
- Ambulances are used in a life-threatening, lifesaving situation whereas ambulettes are not used for such situations.
Comparison Between Ambulance and Ambulette
| Parameters of comparison | Ambulance | Ambulette |
| Definition | An ambulance is a vehicle specially designed for carrying someone who needs emergency medical attention. | An ambulette is a vehicle for carrying disabled people. |
| Use of it | It is used for life-threatening situations. | Ambulettes are used to help those who are limited to mobility |
| Vehicle includes | Ambulances have sirens, flashlights, and alarms to indicate an emergency. | Ambulettes may have flashlights but there are no alarms or sirens since there are no emergency circumstances. |
| Para-medical staff | Para-medical staffs are available ambulances | Para-medical staffs are not available in ambulettes. |
| Size | They are smaller in size. | Ambulettes are comparatively larger |