Published: October 4, 2024
Bartow, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2024) — Polk County Fire Rescue has expanded its specialty operations capacity with the addition of two bariatric ambulances and an aerial drone unit. The deployment date for the bariatric units was Tuesday, Oct. 1, with their initial housing at PCFR Station 24 Winston Creek and Station 5 Jan Phyl. Battalion Chief 5 will house and operate the Fotokite drone.
The bariatric ambulance units are retrofitted vehicles that have received equipment upgrades to include larger stretchers, ramps and winches. These upgrades help accommodate the patient and aid in loading and unloading.
According to statistics obtained from the Florida Department of Health Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, in 2019, 35% of adults in Polk County were overweight or obese.
Built for first responders, the Fotokite is a unique aerial drone, as the tethered unmanned aircraft system does not require the operator to possess a Part 107 license or need a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration. Tethering the Fotokite to its housing and limiting its maximum flight altitude to 150 feet means it does not require FAA flight clearance. These design choices allow for more rapid and varied deployment compared to traditional drones.
“The new bariatric units grant us the ability to transport more Polk County residents or visitors using in-house assets while the tethered drone will be a valuable resource for our crews and leadership,” said Interim Fire Chief Shawn Smith. “The Fotokite provides our crews with a bird’s-eye view of the emergency scene and thermal imaging capabilities that help our crews locate trapped, injured, lost or disoriented residents, firefighters and animals.”