American-style siren, new color,… Samu du Nord is changing its ambulances and we explain why

Change of colors at Samu du Nord. As ambulances are renewed, the emergency medical service intends to be better seen by motorists on the road. For this, a new color code has been adopted: fluorescent yellow and blue. “we were initially white, we harmonized with Europe with the European colors of medical vehicles: yellow and blueexplain Jérôme Cuny, deputy department head of Samu du Nord. At the same time, these are the colors of the CHU”. These colors are a recommendation from the European Union, there is no obligation. But listening to this doctor, the Samu du Nord has everything to gain with these new colors.

Change in people's habits

“We saw the difference with white vehicles where there was a certain habit or habituation of people to this color”adds Jérôme Cuny. Motorists are more willing to give priority to emergency vehicles since these changes which began 2 years ago for the 16 Samu du Nord ambulances stationed at the Lille University Hospital. Gradually, the Samu ambulances attached to the hospitals of Maubeuge, Roubaix and Armentières adopted the same colors and… sirens.

American mermaid

Another noticeable change is this: a new siren equips these vehicles. “We still have the classic 2-tone sirenunderlines Jérôme Cuny. We can also have multimodal sirens, that is to say American style. We also have more powerful LED lamps (beacons). They respect European standards but with this more powerful and changing visual and sound, it allows, without scaring people, to have a smooth flow and rapid intervention: in a cardiac arrest, every minute will count “.