CHAPTER V
Motor Ambulance Work
Considerations of Design of Emergency Ambulances—Points to be borne in Mind—Some Examples of Practical Designs now in Service—The Work of Motor Ambulances at the Front—Scouring the Battlefields—How the British Red Cross Society gets its Fleet.
Among military uses of motor vehicles, the motor ambulance probably comes next in order of importance after the transport and supply waggons. Evidently with the motor ambulance must be grouped cars suitable for use in carrying wounded men who are not obliged to be transported in a recumbent position, and even ordinary touring cars when employed, as they are being somewhat extensively at the present moment, for taking convalescent men on health-giving motor trips. This last is a quite useful class of work in which even those motorists can participate who are only able to offer their services and those of their cars in the vicinity of their own homes and at specified hours.
In times of peace, the motor ambulance proper is, so far as its chassis is concerned, more akin to an industrial vehicle than to a touring car. The heavier examples, in some cases, run on solid rubber tyres, and in others on twin pneumatics, while the lighter types are fitted with single pneumatics of heavy section. In detail, the chassis is simple and strong, and well adapted to be put under the charge of a driver of only average mechanical ability. The principal points are that the vehicles should be silent in running, not liable to derangement and extremely well sprung. Owing to the first consideration, worm-driven chassis are particularly suitable for this class of work, and owing to the second a slightly modified light van chassis is generally to be preferred to the highly-refined but more complicated touring car.
AMBULANCE DRILL OF THE CITY OF LONDON BRANCH OF THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY, USING CARS FITTED WITH THE B.H.S. SPRING STRETCHER-SUSPENSION.
LIFTING THE STRETCHER.
LOADING THE STRETCHER INTO THE CAR BODY. IT IS AFTERWARDS RAISED FORE AND AFT AND ATTACHED BY STRAPS TO THE SPRING HOOKS PROVIDED. NOTE THE MEN RUNNING TO THE FRONT TO LIFT THE FORWARD HANDLES.
