Tulsa World: A siren you can feel coming

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A siren you can feel coming

EMSA recruiter and paramedic Chris Stevens (left) and Tulsa Police Officer Mike Avey each cover an ear as the "Howler" siren is demonstrated Tuesday on an ambulance at EMSA headquarters in Tulsa. JAMES PLUMLEE/Tulsa World

By ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer
Published: 11/12/2008 2:14 AM
Last Modified: 2/11/2009 7:34 AM

View more photos and listen to a press conference announcing the new sirens: tulsaworld.com/photos

Because she is assigned to ambulance No. 17, Afton Bennett is the envy of the Emergency Medical Services Authority.

No, the ambulance doesn't have a built-in minibar or flashy rims, but it does have a sweet sound system, known as the "Howler."

Soon, all 77 EMSA ambulances statewide will be like Tulsa's No. 17, the first to be outfitted with a siren that not only can be heard, but felt, EMSA spokeswoman Tina Wells announced Tuesday.

"It's kind of like the car that's playing the loud R&B rap music and you can kind of feel it vibrating," Wells said.

But this Howler system isn't just about creating good vibes; it's about making motorists more aware that an ambulance is around.

"It's just another cue for drivers that might have loud music going, an engrossing cell phone conversation or a quiet passenger cabin," Wells said.

Adding the low-frequency siren to the mix will cost less than $400 for each ambulance, and outfitting the whole EMSA fleet will take about four to six months, said Kelly Smith, EMSA fleet manager.

So far this year, EMSA ambulances have had 16 collisions, 15 of which occurred while responding to calls. Repairing an ambulance after an accident can cost $14,000 to $16,000, he said.

"I think we'll be way ahead if we get this working right,"

Smith said.

The added alert should result in fewer of those accidents and faster response times, said Jeff Busch, regional sales manager of Whelen Engineering, which manufactures the Howler sirens.

"A lot of people are high-frequency deaf," Busch said. "EMSA is a trendsetter and a leader in the country on this. Tulsa should be very grateful to install this system."

After a month-long trial run with ambulance No. 17's Howler, Bennett said she notices a difference in how people — both drivers and pedestrians — act when they hear and feel the new sirens. Since upgrading the siren, No. 17 has had no accidents.

"It's been a nice change having such an effect on traffic," she said. "It feels a lot safer."

Althea Peterson 581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com

By the numbers

Less than $400: Cost to install the “Howler” siren on each ambulance

16: Number of EMSA ambulance accidents this year

$14,000-$16,000: Average cost of repairing ambulances per accident

111-123: Average decibels of traditional sirens

93-95: Average decibels of Howler sirens

200: Range in feet that the Howler will cause objects to reverberate

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By ALTHEA PETERSON World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment jestergrl, ok (11/12/2008 6:14:12 AM) It will be kind unnerving the first time you hear it. If I have my music going on and concentrating on traffic or whatever you do in traffic and suddenly feel like there is a earthquake around me...how would I react or anyone else? I guess we shall see. When I do hear an ambulance in the area, it is hard to tell where it is coming from and how far away and that does include any kind of emergency vehicles.
	Report Comment Angry John, Tulsa (11/12/2008 6:45:45 AM) Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank You God! Now the sirens that keep me awake all night everynight can also rattle the windowpanes and who knows what else. As long as folks will still be able to talk on their cell-phones and listen to their THUMP music full-blast while driving, it will be a small sacrifice to make.
	Report Comment Webmeister, (11/12/2008 8:27:46 AM) EMSA is having another dumb idea moment. Frequently, when stuck in rush-hour traffic, the Ambulance transport is likewise just as stuck. So all those drivers in cars in the surrounding area of the Howler Siren are going to get TERRORIZED by a sonic shock to their system. The extreme range of 200 feet is going to subject COMPLIANT drivers as well as non-compliant drivers to literal sonic torture. I think that just MIGHT be a bit of a distraction as well. What idiot thought up this nuisance? Oh, I see: The Siren Manufacturere.
	Report Comment car2back, Tulsa (11/12/2008 8:47:20 AM) I hope you guys remember your comments when you're waiting for an ambulance to respond for you or a loved one and some dumb @$$ driver isn't yielding the right of way ;)
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (11/12/2008 9:21:02 AM) The guy dying in the back of the ambulance will thank you for putting up with a bit of noise.
	Report Comment my view, America (11/12/2008 10:58:06 AM) Only time will tell if this is a good idea or not. It seems to me, if you crack your window, put down your cell phone and turn your radio down a little you could hear the old siren. The bigger question is, will you be able to tell the difference between the vibration of the siren from the vibration of the city streets.
	Report Comment Whirled Peas, (11/12/2008 1:42:59 PM) This is the same as the police "rumbler" isnt it? Now the fire department will also want something that sounds like a ride at the fair. And how are we supposed to hear a low frequency siren over the big subwoofer car stereos that rattle the trim off your car?
	Report Comment SS_hippy, Tulsa (11/12/2008 1:48:33 PM) ohhhhhhhhh grrrrrreaaaaaaattttttt iii iiii ddd ddd eeeeaaaaaaaaa
	Report Comment thinker, (11/12/2008 3:01:47 PM) There are people who are hard of hearing or even deaf that could benefit from this vibration. And yes they can drive Stop griping....if you people would get the heck out of the way they wouldn't need this stuff...... whine whine unless it is you they are trying to get to....is it really going to hurt you?
	Report Comment thinker, (11/12/2008 3:03:21 PM) Webmeister I am thinking they can probably control it and if they were really STUCK in traffic could turn it off until they get out...... like I said move and they wouldn't need this.
	Report Comment CWG, Tulsa (11/12/2008 7:35:05 PM) Amen,Graychin.
	Report Comment heybunny, tulsa (11/12/2008 9:36:33 PM) I have a hard time hearing them untill they're right up on me, always jamming out to oingo boingo. The sirens blend into the horn section... its a dead mans party....who could ask for more?
	Report Comment heybunny, tulsa (11/12/2008 9:42:42 PM) btw, I love the pic for this article, it looks like they just blew the siren and are trying to make the ringing in their ears stop LOL
	Report Comment heybunny, tulsa (11/12/2008 9:43:50 PM) lol I guess it says that below the pic, I need to learn to read...
	Report Comment The Bug, (11/15/2008 11:17:11 AM) The rumbler don't operate the entire time the sirens are going. The rumblers are a seperate compontent with a different toggle switch. They are used specifically when vehicles will not yield when drivers are too distrated by thier blaring music or cell phones. If you don't want to get shaken then pay attention and pull to the (RIGHT) Don't pull to the left and don't just freeze in the left lane. Like thinker, car2back and Graychin say, you will appreciate it when it's you or your loved one in need of an ambulance. Hear that Webmeister? It's such a "dumb idea" that EMSA is getting accolades from National News agencies and this news is getting reported by local news networks accross the nation as a great idea. So, what does that make of your opinion? These Rumblers make a world of difference. In the world of EMS every second counts.

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