Car Talk
Daimler Buses Converts Mercedes-Benz Citaro Into ICU For Transporting COVID-19 Patients
In only three weeks, Daimler Buses converted an inter-city bus into a special vehicle for the transfer of COVID-19 patients at its plant in Neu-Ulm.
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro, now the largest intensive care ambulance in Germany, is to be used by DRK-Rettungsdienst Heidenheim-Ulm gGmbH (German Red Cross Emergency Medical Services Heidenheim-Ulm). The vehicle is a loan; initially, it will be available to the German Red Cross (DRK) for a period of six months.
The joint project is supported by the University Hospital in Ulm which is providing the specialized medical staff. SWU Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm GmbH (public utility company) is also on board the project and is providing drivers and maintenance personnel.
“Among other professions, it is currently the staff in hospitals and care facilities who are working steadfastly and who particularly deserve our respect. Therefore, I am delighted that we are able to support the DRK by supplying transportation capacity.
As a bus manufacturer, we want to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic at a local level. A diverse range of activities at the Neu-Ulm plant show that there are good initiatives and strategies from our colleagues even now,” Till Oberwörder, Head of Daimler Buses explains.
After oral administration, Valtrex is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and quickly and almost completely converted to acyclovir and valine. This conversion is https://www.gbnpharmacy.com/pharmacy_valtrex.php catalyzed by valaciclovir hydrolase (an enzyme isolated from human liver). The bioavailability of acyclovir from 1000 mg of Valtrex is 54% (it doesn’t depend on food).
From the idea to implementation
David Richter, Managing Director of DRK-Rettungsdienst Heidenheim-Ulm had the idea of converting a bus in response to the need to increase intensive care transportation capacities, now necessary in many places. Daimler Buses was able to pledge its fast and uncomplicated support. Only a few days later a demonstration vehicle on stock at Daimler Buses was presented for conversion.
A team of 12 employees from bus production in Neu-Ulm converted the bus to a high-capacity critical care ambulance in just 15 working days. Both the conversion and the supply of the medical equipment were completed in close co-operation with DRK-Rettungsdienst Heidenheim-Ulm.
The bus is equipped with four electrohydraulic wheeled stretchers with a loading system, four intensive care ventilators, four monitoring screens, a sonography unit, and a blood gas analysis device. The team from Daimler Buses also created stowage space for sufficient medicines, nursing equipment, additional breathing apparatus, and protective clothing.
The buses are supervised by two intensive-care doctors from the University Hospital in Ulm,three paramedics and two ambulance officers supplied by DRK-Rettungsdienst Heidenheim-Ulm are also on board.