'Everybody takes notice': New siren shakes things up for Winnipeg emergency vehicles

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service's latest attempt to make sure drivers are aware of oncoming emergency vehicles might not be ground-breaking, but it's certainly ground-shaking.

The service's fleet of district chief of paramedic operations vehicles have been equipped with a new siren system that does more than make noise it emits a low-frequency tone that can send vibrations into the cars ahead of them.

It means drivers can literally feel the sound, and that's hard not to notice, said Tom Howards, who manages the WFPS's fleet of light vehicles.

"Essentially it's a product somewhat like a big bass speaker," Howards said about the device, called a Whelen Howler.

"The feedback from the operators is that it's making a difference in their safety."

The Howler, which is a black cannister roughly the size of a coffee can, sits behind the front bumper.

After a successfultest run in 2016, the deviceswere installed in all six chief of paramedic operations vehicles when the fleet was replaced last year.

The Howler augments the vehicle's siren, dramatically slowing down the frequency, Howards said.

The resulting low, growling sound can be quite jarring, said Michelle Bessas, a district chief of paramedic operations, who uses the siren several times per shift.

'Everybody takes notice'

After getting a call and activating the siren system in herSUV-style district chief vehicle, Bessas switches on the Howler by pushing on the horn.

She uses the new tool whenapproaching an intersection, where emergency vehicle drivers face the greatest risk.

Not only can they collide with others on the road, but there's a risk other vehicles will collide with each other if they're not doing what's required pulling over to the right and stopping.

"When the Howler goes off, we notice that everybody takes notice they're looking around and wondering what's going on," Bessastold aCBC reporter during a recent ride-along.

While district chiefs like Bessas don't respond to every call paramedics respond to, they go to all serious incidents and calls that involve children and help crews with advanced life support services as needed.

Bessas said the Howler's unique sound and sensation which can go double the distance a traditional siren sound travels helps her get to those scenes quicker.

Hear what the Howler sounds like

5 years ago

Duration 0:24

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is literally shaking things up in its latest attempt to make sure drivers are aware of oncoming emergency vehicles.

"A delay in our response in certain situations can really make a difference in the outcome of a patient it can mean the difference between life and death or a permanent disability or making a full recovery," Bessassaid.

"We all want to go home safe at the end of the day, and we don't want to cause anybody else to have a collision or to get injured."

Un-distracting drivers

Ambulances in Corner Brook, N.L., were among the first emergency vehicles in Canadaequipped with Howlersfour years ago.

David Buckle, regional director of paramedicine and medical transport with Western Health, the regional health authority in Corner Brook, saidthe Howler gets the attention of drivers distracted by phones or loud music.

"We've developed our cars to be like our living room chesterfield everything is very comfortable and you've got these really state-of-the-art sound systems onboard and the vehicles are soundproof," Buckle said.

"So with this, that certainly assists us to break that barrier."

The Calgary Police Service also uses Howlers.

The WFPS is looking at installing Howlers which cost around $1,500 each on other first response vehicles (such as ambulances and fire trucks)in the future.

Winnipeg police saidthey have no plans to move to the Howler system, but they are looking at giving the device a trial run.

While Bessas said the new siren is a helpful tool inemergency workers' ongoing fight to make sure drivers know to get out of their way when their lights are flashing, she knows that could change as drivers get used to the new sound.

That's why she stresses drivers need to remember what to do when they see her and other emergency drivers in their rearview mirrors pull over to the right and stop when it's safe to do so.

"It's in everybody's best interest."

The Howler's growl gets attention

5 years ago

Duration 1:40

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is literally shaking things up in its latest attempt to make sure drivers are aware of oncoming emergency vehicles.

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