On The Scene
April 29, 2009
On April 29, 2009 shortly after 10:00 a.m. CMPD along with several other agencies (Charlotte Fire Department, NC State Highway Patrol, and Medic) responded to a traffic collision on I-77S involving a Cabarrus County Activity School Bus. On board the bus were approximately 33 children and 12 adults who were en route to Camp Thunderbird. All of the passengers were able to escape the bus prior to arrival of CFD and Medic.

In approximately 30 minutes Charlotte FF's and Medic were able to treat, stabilize, and transport those injured to area hospitals. Those who were not hurt were taken to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Headquarters to re unite with their families. The Charlotte Fire Dept upgraded this incident to a 2nd alarm response, bringing nearly 48 firefighters to the scene to support this mass causality incident. Additional firefighters were assigned to CMPD headquarters to support the uninjured children who were able to reunite with their parents.

Medic's response to the collision consisted of 8 ambulances, a Mass Casualty Response Unit, and one of Medic's two Mass Casualty Transport Buses. Approximately 28 Paramedics, EMT's and Medic Supervisors managed medical care on scene. A total of 62 patients were evaluated by Medic Paramedics and CFD first responders. 36 total patients were transported to area hospitals for treatment. The 11 most seriously injured patients were transported via ambulance to CMC Main and Presbyterian Hospital. The remaining 25 patients, each of whom only suffered minor injuries, were transported via Medic's Mass Casualty Transport Bus to CMC Main and Presbyterian Hospital.

The fact that Medic was able to employ its Mass Casualty Transport Bus was critical as it allowed the Agency to safely retain paramedic coverage for the rest of the County while a substantial mass casualty incident was occurring. Medic was able to safely respond to numerous other life threatening situations throughout Mecklenburg County thanks to the capabilities of this invaluable resource.

Acting as an assisting agency, CMPD opened Police HQ to serve as a safe location for the children who were not transported to area hospitals. In addition, CMPD opened their Command Center to assist families in gathering information about their children. CMPD also offered assistance to the families of the children who were transported to local hospitals by confirming which hospital they were transported to and providing transportation and/or directions to them as needed.

81 children were brought to CMPD HQ to be reunited with their families. Children were provided pizza and light snacks as they awaited their parents' arrival to Police HQ. The last child was re united with their family shortly after 3:00 p.m. NC State Highway Patrol will be handling the investigation to determine the cause of this collision.

Local Company Creates Mobile Evacuation Bus Office of Homeland Security/Washington, DC Fire Departments Plan Unveiling at Capitol
HIGH POINT, N.C., March 29, 2007 The federal government is so excited about High Point based Sartin Services' newest product (MAB), Mobile Evacuation Bus, that it has already ordered seven for Washington, DC area fire departments, and plans to unveil the vehicles in grand fashion on the steps of the Capitol in Washington during a major press conference March 29.

"We are so pleased that the government shares our excitement about these vehicles and realizes the potential for helping people in the event of a major accident, a terrorist action, a pandemic or a natural disaster such as a hurricane. Our goal in developing this vehicle was to give responding rescue and medical personnel the tools they needed to care for and transport large numbers of patients which we hope will save lives," said Ed Sartin, president of Sartin Services.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in the fall of 2005, Sartin had an idea. He wanted to design a patient evacuation/triage vehicle that could treat and transport large numbers of patients or victims to or from a hospital. He wanted a complete patient care system that could be assembled in any large vehicle such as a bus, tractor trailer, truck, train, airplane, subway car or a railroad car. The design that Sartin and his son Austin, came up with makes it possible to treat and transport large numbers of injured people at the same time. Being familiar with buses, they started with the shell of a bus and got to work building a bigger, better triage/evacuation vehicle. They have succeeded.

The Sartins designed the vehicle with several unique components that give caregivers the tools they need to treat or transport large numbers of patients or victims. A sliding stretcher stacking system allows medical personnel to load as many as 24 patients on one bus. A large oxygen storage and distribution system provides a long term supply of oxygen and an individual metered oxygen supply for each patient. A large adjustable ramp that stores under the bus is used for loading or unloading patients. The ramp can be positioned at different height levels to accommodate the loading or unloading needs of medical personnel. The bus also has many other special features including a nurse's station, seating for medical personnel, an onboard generator, electrical outlets and storage compartments for medical machines and equipment, emergency lighting and siren, heating and air conditioning. The Sartin's have filed several patent applications on the vehicle and components. The system is not only limited to a bus, it can be installed on trucks, tractor-trailers, trains, subway cars, railroad cars or airplanes.

"In the event of a major medical emergency - whether it's a subway accident, multi-casualty incident, or a terrorist attack - it may be necessary to transport large numbers of victims to the hospital," said Tom Carr, fire chief of the Montgomery County, Md. Fire and Rescue Service, which coordinated the purchase. “While an ambulance can handle one or possibly two patients, these specially outfitted buses will increase the region's transport capability allowing each vehicle to accommodate up to 21 victims at a time."

The funds for this initial bus purchase were procured from a grant from the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative. Once complete, the MABs will be delivered to different fire departments in the Washington, DC area, including Montgomery County, Md.

"These buses will be vital in transporting pandemic patients, going to a major medical emergency, a mass-casualty incident, a terrorist attack, evacuation of a hospital in a hurricane's path or even to be on-site in the Western forest fires to allow firefighters to get oxygen and sleep," says Austin Sartin.

About Sartin Services Inc. Sartin Services, Inc. is the largest Trans/Air school bus air conditioning sales, service and installation facility in the country. The company installs school bus air conditioning in thousands of buses each year. Sartin Services installs and sells school bus parts for buses from companies like C. E. White Seating, Ricon Lifts, Braun Lifts, Maxon Lifts, SureLok Wheelchair Tiedowns, Q'Straint Wheelchair Securements, Mirror Lite Mirrors, SafeGuard Seats by IMMI and Rostra SDS student detection systems.

Sartin Services, Inc. develops and delivers specialty bus
HIGH POINT, N.C. Sartin Services, Inc. announces the completion and delivery of a Mobile Command Center Bus to the Saluda County 911 Administration and Emergency Management Center in Saluda, South Carolina.

The Emergency Response Bus which was delivered to Saluda County on Monday, August 16th was custom designed and will provide Saluda County with a Mobile Communications Center Vehicle that can respond to any type of emergency. A listing of some of the features of this Emergency Response Bus are: a 12kw generator that is pulled behind the bus on a separate trailer, a 100 foot shoreline cable that allows the generator trailer to be placed some distance away from the Command Center Bus, air conditioning and heating units, a bathroom with toilet and sink, four radio communication positions, two computer locations, overhead cabinets on both sides of the vehicle, flourescent lighting, four locking file drawers and twenty one (21) feet of counter top work area.

This is the second unit that Sartin Services has produced. The first unit produced was an Hospital Evacuation Bus order by Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Emergency Management. For more information about Mobile Communications Buses, Mobile Command Center Buses, Emergency Response Buses or Hospital Evacuation Buses contact Sartin Services, Inc .in High Point, North Carolina. 888-524-5505.

About Sartin Services Inc. Sartin Services, Inc. is the largest Trans/Air school bus air conditioning sales, service and installation facility in the country. The company installs school bus air conditioning in thousands of buses each year. Sartin Services installs and sells school bus parts for buses from companies like C. E. White Seating, Ricon Lifts, Braun Lifts, Maxon Lifts, SureLok Wheelchair Tiedowns, Q'Straint Wheelchair Securements, Mirror Lite Mirrors, SafeGuard Seats by IMMI and Rostra SDS student detection systems.