(P2-24) The “Oxygen Bus”: Retrofitting a City Bus with Oxygen Resources to Respond to Hospital Evacuations and Other Disasters

Abstract

Evacuation/Oxygen Bus The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) identified a need to treat multiple stable fire/inhalation victims who require oxygen, whether due to a previous medical condition or as the result of an acute event, such as evacuation of or fire in any building, hospital, or treatment facility. As a partner with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and an active participant in the “Chicago Healthcare System Coalition for Preparedness and Response”, the CFD determined that a bus could be an adjunct in city responses and emergencies. With the support of the Coalition, the CFD approached the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to obtain a bus. Once the actual bus was given to the CFD, an operations order was written and the appropriate equipment was purchased. The Evacuation Committee of the Coalition identified equipment and supply needs. Supplies purchased and retrofitted for the bus include modulators for patient oxygen use, oxygen tanks, masks, nebulizers, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), first line advanced life support (ALS) medications, evacuation chairs for moving patients, and special emergency lighting. The bus is able to accommodate thirty five people who require treatment simultaneously. The use of the bus includes but not limited to: (1) hospital evacuation and treatment of stable patients with oxygen and nebulizers prior to transportation to an alternate facility; (2) long-term care facility evacuation and treatment of stable patients with oxygen needs prior to placement and transport to another facility; (3) responding to building fires to treat victims who may need oxygen and nebulizer treatments on site; (4) assisting with the evacuation of home-based, at-risk oxygen dependent patients; and (5) treating evacuated children from specialized treatment facilities who may be oxygen dependent. The outside of the bus has both CFD and CDPH logos to identify that this is a collaborative effort between city agencies and a Healthcare Coalition.