AEV built this Type 1 Traumahawk ambulance on a 4×4 Ford F-550 chassis with a Thunder Struck front bumper brush guard for Omaha (NE) Tribal Rescue. (Photos courtesy of American Response Vehicles.)

By Alan M. Petrillo

American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) has designed, built and delivered a Traumahawk Type 1 ambulance on a custom Ford F-550 4×4 chassis to Omaha (NE) Tribal Rescue.

The Omaha Reservation, which covers 307 square miles, lies primarily in the southern part of Nebraska’s Thurston county and extends into parts of Burt county, and across the Missouri River into Iowa’s Monona County. The most recent census puts the reservation’s population, including non-native residents, at 4,526 people.

The Omaha Tribal Rescue ambulance has a patient box that’s 172-inches long, 96-inches wide, and 74 inches-tall.

Randy Barr, director of sales for AEV, says the Traumahawk is powered by a 6.7-liter diesel engine, has front and rear Liquid Spring suspensions, a Thunder Struck front bumper brush guard, running boards, powder coated wheels, and a Ford Sync 3 system with an 8-inch cab chassis display. The rig’s box is 172 inches long, 96-inches wide, and has 74 inches of headroom, and features Armocell sound deadening insulation and step well insulation.

Lighting on the AEV Type 1 includes Whelen LED warning and scene lighting, and a Whelen Arges 1 Super LED remote control spotlight on the cab roof.

The Type 1 has an external air conditioning compressor, a second AC compressor, ultraviolet decon and an HEPA filter in the HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system, a Class 1 LX multiplex system, a Vanner LifeSine inverter, a 20-amp auto eject system, USB outlets, a Zico electric oxygen bottle lift, stair chair storage, power door locks, remote keypads, privacy windows, antimicrobial powder coated handles, and Per4Max four-point seat belt harnesses on all seating positions. Barr points out that the ambulance has an OEM backup camera, a Brigade 360 degree camera system, turn signal cameras, and a patient compartment camera. The rig also has a Whelen dual tone siren, Whelen Howler, and Whelen air horns.

Omaha Tribal Rescue’s new ambulance has a Zico electric oxygen bottle lift, and stair chair storage.

Lighting on the Traumahawk includes all programmable Whelen LED Nano lights on the front of the box, Whelen LED warning lights, Whelen Pioneer LED scene lights, a Whelen Arges 1 Super LED remote control spotlight on the cab roof, Intertec LED compartment and underbody lights, and skirt rail warning lights, and Daybright cabinet lights.

The Traumahawk has an external air conditioning compressor, and a secondary AC compressor, with the HVAC systems containing ultraviolet decon and HEPA filters.

ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Ariz.-based journalist, the author of three novels and five non-fiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment editorial advisory board. He served 22 years with Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including the position of chief.