Here at Braun Industries, we get excited about each and every opportunity to work with a new department. Last year, we were particularly pleased to bid on a set of specifications for the City of New Orleans. Working with our regional ambulance dealer for the area, Lone Star Emergency Vehicles, we were educated on the needs and wants of one of the busiest EMS departments in the country. Now, the finished units are leaving our plant a few at a time, and we are beyond proud to deliver them to The Big Easy.

Tim Hutchens, President of Lone Star Emergency Vehicles, has the following to say about the New Orleans order.

We have had an ongoing relationship for over twenty-years with the City of New Orleans EMS. As big cities go, you would be hard-pressed to find another EMS service that is more passionate, more tenured, more experienced, and has the variety of trauma calls than the team of professionals at NOLA EMS.  Fully understanding the unique requirements of their EMS service is of paramount importance to us as we provide the appropriate tools they need to save lives.

A complete gallery of images can be seen on our website.

The emergency vehicles that serve the City of New Orleans face a unique set of challenges. For one, they are on emergency calls for service 70-75% of the time. In 2012, the department ran 55,000 calls! Additionally, the tough urban environment of the city streets exposes them to a lot of wear and tear. With little downtime, NOLA's ambulance units must be prepared to hit the pavement ... and stand up to it!

Previously, the City had invested in MedTec units for their fleet. When the manufacturer went out of business last year, New Orleans was forced to seek out a new emergency vehicle provider. To mitigate their risk of a similar situation down the road, New Orleans approached their most recent review of ambulance companies with a different attitude. They were looking for a company that would stand the test of time. Furthermore, they were seeking a partner - someone they could build a long-term relationship with.

New Orleans EMS Chief Carl Flores has the following to say about their choice to work with Braun Industries.

Selecting the right vendor for our new ambulances was critical. We had a unique set of bid specifications that demanded a lot. Most importantly, we weren't looking for someone to just sell us some ambulances and move on. We were looking for a long-term partner. With an initial plan to build over 20 units, and then convert the entire fleet, a lot rested on our decision.

Braun Industries was chosen as the winning bidder because they have 40 years of proven commitment to the EMS industry and their customers. We talked with some of the largest departments in the country and they all had exceptional reviews about working with Braun Industries. In the end, Braun was able to deliver on all of our requests - when no other manufacturer could. They went above and beyond on proving to us they were in it for the long haul.

The first completed Braun ambulance was delivered to The City of New Orleans on February 3, 2013, just in time for Super Bowl XLVII. Additional units are coming out of production on March 11, 2013 and March 25, 2013. All units are the Braun Liberty ambulance model on a Ford F450 Super Cab chassis. Countless customizations have been made to the module to ensure NOLA received all of the features they needed to best serve their community.

Unique ambulance design points include an all aluminum interior; this is new for New Orleans. There is also a custom designed aluminum console to store NOLA's mobile data terminal, a siren, radios, a wireless keyboard, and flashlights. The box includes a rear module camera and backup camera, along with a GPS feature, which has been built into the MasterTech IV Vista Screens. The box also contains custom mounts for the specific equipment NOLA uses to make it easier and safer for the crew to access it and provide critical care.

Congratulations again to The City of New Orleans on their new Braun ambulances! It has been a pleasure working with you and Lone Star on your emergency vehicles. We look forward to serving The Big Easy and its residents for years to come!