FOUR-WHEEL `MULE' RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES AT SEMO FAIR

When a fire or medical emergency occurs this week at the SEMO District Fair, chances are the "Mule" will respond to the call.

It won't be the four-legged, long-eared critter that's known for its stubbornness. Instead, this mule is a Kawasaki "Mule" 1000, a four-wheel utility farm vehicle with air-cooled engine, automatic transmission, and equipped with a 3-by-4-by-1 cargo bin that's been modified by the fire department as an emergency response vehicle.

"It's not a golf cart; it's a lot more than an ATV," said fire inspector Tom Hinkebein. "We really like it."

In fact, the Mule got its first emergency run during the demolition derby at the fair, according to Hinkebein. "A flagman for the derby was struck by one of the cars. Because of all the mud and other conditions, we would have had to carry the victim to the ambulance," said Hinkebein. "But with the Mule, we were able to treat the patient at the scene, then place him on board the mule and transport him to the ambulance. It all went very well." Hinkbein said the flagman was treated and released from a local hospital.

The need for an emergency response vehicle, such as the Mule goes back many years ago, when the fire department and ambulance service became involved with the SEMO District Fair.

Each year the fire department patrols the fairgrounds to make sure all fire lanes are kept open. The department also inspects livestock tents for fire safety and no-smoking, and does all of the electrical inspection at the fair.

Until this year, firefighters at the fair either drove the fire inspector's truck to patrol as much of the fairgrounds as possible or walked the rest of the way, especially in the crowded livestock area, midway, and in the vicinity of the A.C. Brase Arena.

If a call came in to respond to the other side of the fairgrounds while on foot, the firefighter had to double back to the pickup truck, delaying response time.

Cape County Private Ambulance Service also provides an ambulance and medical crew at the fairgrounds each year. Until this year, when a medical emergency occurred, one member of the ambulance crew grabbed a bulky medical jump kit and took off on foot or in a golf cart, if one was available, to respond. The driver tried to get the ambulance as close to the emergency as possible.

After stabilizing the patient, the next task was to get the patient to the ambulance. More often than not, that meant carrying the patient on a stretcher a considerable distance to the waiting ambulance.

"It was hard on the fire and ambulance people responding to the emergency, and it certainly wasn't any better for the patient," said Hinkebein. "We tried using the golf carts that are supplied to the fair each year, but they just didn't meet our needs for a quick response vehicle."

After talking to other fire officials around the state, Hinkebein decided to go with something larger than a golf cart.

"After I got back I talked to Todd Rowland at Express Cycle, and he agreed to provide one of their Mules for the fair. Our medical officer, Lt. Brad Golden and fire department mechanic Mike Morgan, did all of the modification work," said Hinkebein.

It just so happened the Mule that Roland had in stock was painted fire-engine red. So all that was needed was to install a rotating emergency red light on top of the rollbar frame and set a mount in the cargo bin for a 20-pound, class A-B-C fire extinguisher.

The vehicle has the familiar EMS "Star of Life" decal on it along with the name, Cape Girardeau Fire Department, on three sides. "All of the letters reflect light at night, so its real easy to see it," said Hinkebein.

Two-way communication is provided by a hand-held radio, but Hinkebein said it's possible a two-way, mobile radio could be easily mounted in the vehicle since it has a standard 12-volt electrical system similar to most other motor vehicles.

The Mule will be dispatched by two-way radio from the communications and security command post at the fairgrounds.

There's no siren on the Mule; Hinkebein said a siren would cause too much confusion. Between the red light, loud horn, and directions shouted by the driver, Hinkebein said pedestrians are quick to clear a path for the vehicle.

Besides the fire extinguisher, the Mule is equipped with two medical supply jump kits, oxygen, a backboard, and other specialized medical equipment.

"If the patient must be transported to the ambulance, we can put them on the backboard that's attached to the Mule," said Hinkebein. "This avoids having to carry the patient on a stretcher a long distance to the ambulance. A spotlight mounted on top of the rollbar is directed toward the backboard so an EMT or paramedic can continue to care for the patient or walk alongside the vehicle," Hinkebein said.

In addition to serving as an emergency response and routine fire patrol vehicle at the fair, Hinkebein said the Mule also will be on standby in front of the grandstand during the demolition derby and tractor pull events.

"If it warms up this week, I also expect we'll be transporting senior citizens who become overheated or exhausted and need to be transported to the first aid tent," he said.

Hinkebein would like to see the fire department purchase an emergency vehicle such as the Mule, perhaps in cooperation with the county or other communities. The Mule retails for around $6,000. He said rural fire departments purchased an air supply van that is used by all of the fire departments.

"A Mule would be ideal for the Riverfest and other events where there are large numbers of people in a confined, outdoor area," he said.

Hinkebein said next year he's thinking about putting a weather cab on the Mule to keep the rain out.