TTC repurposes buses to help paramedics with emergency transport
The TTC has partnered with Toronto Paramedics to repurpose decommissioned buses for emergency transport to help the evolving medical needs for the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The transit commission and Paramedic Services have repurposed five decommissioned TTC buses to safely transport both ambulatory and stretcher-bound patients, including those on ventilators.
An inside look at the repurposed TTC bus (City of Toronto)
“I am extremely proud of the innovation and cooperation across our City government to fight COVID-19. This project by the TTC and Paramedics, brought together at wartime speed, responds to an urgent need and will help the ill and vulnerable in Toronto immediately,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement.
“We are all working together to do our part in stopping the spread of this deadly virus and take care of everyone in our community.”
- See also:
According to the city, each bus can transport three stretcher-bound patients, eight to ten ambulatory patients (dependant on spacing for physical distancing), plus three paramedics and one driver.
“The converted buses represent a key component of the City’s contingency planning to support seamless, efficient, and timely patient care, while also providing important surge capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the City said in a statement.
The vehicles provide multi-patient options, including inter-facility patient transfers, the provision of a staging area for large incidents, and shelter for facility evacuations.
On Monday, modifications to three vehicles were completed and will soon be operational, responding to calls as needed, and improvements for the two other buses are underway.
Vehicles will be driven by TTC drivers with paramedics seeing to medical needs of patients.