SOLAR panels are helping ambulances save lives by giving life-saving equipment vital extra power.
About 36 of the rapid response unit vehicles of the South Central Ambulance Service Trust, which covers Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hampshire will have the PV panels installed to help run defibrillators, sirens, radio systems, GPS and lights.
According to The Express this will mean ambulance crews should no longer need to return to their depots to charge the equipment or let their vehicles’ engines idle to do so while on standby between emergency calls.
It will also help save money as the energy generated from the panels will be free as it comes from the sun.
The trust paid £34,560 to equip the 36 vehicles with the panels, but it hopes to cuts its fuel costs by more than £50,000 over the five years as well as reducing its carbon footprint.
Brian Miller, the trust’s green team co-ordinator, said: “South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is taking the initiative to introduce solar panels to its rapid response vehicles.
“It will reduce fuel consumption, fuel and battery replacement costs, the trust’s carbon footprint and the need for rapid response vehicles to return to base to recharge vehicle batteries.”
A report from the trust said: “The introduction of solar panels to our fleet is just one example of the imaginative ways in which we are achieving savings whilst delivering an enhanced quality service and best care to our patients as well as benefiting the environment.”
Paramedic John Ayling of Portsmouth, said: “It is impressive that we are the first ambulance trust in the country to do this. It is a fantastic idea.
