LA County Lifeguard Ford Escape Hybrid

Add Feedback

Share |

The Los Angeles County Lifeguards, a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, are currently using 45 brand new Ford Escape Hybrids for beach patrol and rescues. The cars run on battery power to save on fuel. "In the first six months of operation, we estimated that we saved around 5000 gallons of fuel," Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Chris Staffield says. They have also reduced their carbon emissions by 97,500 pounds.

While working on rescues and patrolling the beaches, lifeguards run the vehicles on battery-power. This makes the vehicles very quiet, meaning lifeguards must take extra care to watch for beach goers, especially children. "Maximum speed is 25 miles per hour, but the crowd at the beach really dictates how fast we go," Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Eric Howell explains.

The Los Angeles County Lifeguards have held vehicle sponsorships for the past twenty years, but the Ford Escape Hybrids are the first vehicle to be customized inside and out to make rescue operations easier. The vehicles come equipped with two radio antennas, an AVL GPS locater device, an external speaker, and an LED light bar. Eric Howell says, "Anytime you outfit a vehicle with a light bar and all sorts of different accessories that take up a lot of electricity, it can be really hard on the motor. I think these have responded pretty well."

In addition to high tech devices, Ford also removed 60 percent of the rear seat for a specially designed metal box that holds rescue gear. A radio rack has been fitted out in the center console; and, since each vehicle is outfitted the same, lifeguards will have not trouble feeling comfortable with a different vehicle, even if they are at a new beach.

"We absolutely love them," Chris Staffield says. "They're smaller than our old cars, so when we get into a very tight beach situation, we have a tighter turning radius."The new vehicles save Los Angeles County money as well as help the environment.



Author:Barbara Brooks - Video, Katelyn Sullivan - Text