American Emergency Vehicles built this Type 3 Traumahawk ambulance on a Chevrolet G4500 chassis for Jasper County (IL) Ambulance Service. (Photos courtesy of American Response Vehicles.)
By Alan M. Petrillo
Jasper County (IL) Ambulance Service has added a third American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) Type 3 Traumahawk to its fleet. The ambulance service has a staff of 25 emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who provide advanced life support (ALS) and emergency transport services in Jasper County.
Jasper County’s new Type 3 is powered by a 6.6 liter Vortec V8 gasoline engine and a six speed automatic transmission.
Craig Smith, regional manger for American Response Vehicles, who sold the Type 3 to Jasper County Ambulance Service, says the rig is built on a 2024 Chevrolet G4500 chassis powered by a 6.6-liter Vortec V8 gasoline engine with an engine block heater, and a six-speed automatic transmission. He adds that the rig has a 220-amp alternator and a 20-amp auto eject connection.
The Type 3 Traumahawk has Whelen M6 and M9 LED emergency lighting, a Whelen electronic dual tone siren, and Federal Signal speakers built into the front bumper.
Smith says that the Traumahawk has a front axle weight rating of 4,600 pounds, and a rear axle weight rating of 9,600 pounds, giving the rig a 14,200 pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The Type 3’s body is 172-inches long and 95-inches wide with 72-inches of headroom, and has Dri-Dek compartment shelving and sweep out compartment floors.
The cab of Jasper County’s new Type 3 Traumahawk.
The ambulance has polished aluminum diamond plate skirt rails, USB outlets in the cab and patient module, an OEM backup camera, electronic power door locks on all doors and compartments, a Whelen electronic dual tone siren, Federal Signal speakers recessed in the bumper, and dual oxygen cylinders in Zico racks, he points out.
“This unit pretty closely matches their previous AEV Type 3 Traumahawk,” Smith says. “The big difference is in the dual oxygen cylinders and the addition of an EVS 1880 child safety seat in the attendant’s seat.
Jasper County chose to have a two seat squad bench in the rig.
Smith adds that the attendant’s seat, the CPR seat and the two squad bench seats are all protected by Per4max four point harnesses. Also, the rig has a locking narcotics cabinet, a Stryker PowerLOAD system, antimicrobial grab rails, and a battery powered aviation style clock over the rear door.
The attendant’s seat holds an EVS 1880 child safety seat.
Lighting on the Jasper County Type 3 includes Whelen LED M6 and M 9 warning lights on all four sides of the rig, Whelen M9 scene lights on the sides, Whelen M6 LED loading lights at the rear, Day Bright LED compartment and module lighting, and Hella clear 550 halogen fog lights.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Arizona-based journalist, the author of three novels and five nonfiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Editorial Advisory Board. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.
