Oklahoma Ambulances Debut Sirens That You Can Feel

djupedal writes "Booming like a 1980s video game, the Howler can even make liquids ripple — Oklahoma's largest ambulance company will become the first ambulance service in the nation to outfit its entire fleet with new Howler sirens, designed to emit low-frequency tones that penetrate objects within 200 feet — such as cars — to alert drivers." This is all well and fine, but I wonder what they plan to do when their sirens call up one of the big worms from deep below?

Comments

That's right..

[damn_registrars]

They're bringing change you can feel.

Oh, wait that was Oklahoma?

Obligatory link

[Brian Gordon]

This is amazing if you think about it, because by this point I could nearly feel the pressure waves of sound coming from that siren. I have no idea what the decibel rating of a modern siren is, but it must be huge. Which makes sense, given that the sound of the siren has to penetrate the cabin of modern, sound-proof automobiles and overpower the sound of unmuffled Harleys. But the fact that I was having to hold my ears to avoid deafness, while cars were moving into the intesection oblivious to the siren's sound, shows that we have reached the end of siren technology. It is time to think of a better solution. Sirens cannot get any lounder without causing local earthquakes. Sound waves simply are not the answer.

http://sadtech.blogspot.com/2006/01/sirens.html

Re:Obligatory link

[Andr T.]

This sounds like a Shampoo description. Was this siren invented by Shampoo?

Re:Obligatory link

[eleuthero]

Either that, or a microwave emitter. If you don't get out of my way, I'll cook you... that would be awesome.

it would also ensure ongoing business for you provided you turned it off in time.

Re:Obligatory link

[Lijemo]

A nearby PD has started using a similar product, called Rumblers, but I haven't heard much about any successes or failures. I would like to get some for my ambulance, cause people just don't pay enough attention.

A couple of years ago, I was walking up to an intersection in Boston. A fire truck was driving up to the intersection with lights on, no siren yet.As the drivers stopped at the intersection glanced in their rear-view mirrors, their expressions seemed to say: "grumble, grumble, he's about to turn that siren on and make us get out of the way, isn't he? Grumble, grumble. I guess I'll start getting ready...sigh..."

But instead of a standard siren, the truck started blasting Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" at full volume. It was awesome-- I thought it was FAR more intimidating-sounding than a siren would have been, and apparently the drivers stopped at the intersection agreed-- their expressions all changed to "Holy crap! Get me out of the way of that thing!". And scramble, they did.

You had to be there to get the full effect, I think. Re-reading what I just wrote doesn't capture it at all. But in person, it was just... damn. Especially since it was so unexpected. I was grinning about it all afternoon. So perhaps a well-chosen CD collection for your ambulance?

Quite a show

[Onaga]

Just imagine a bunch of cars all parked tightly on a nice street. Now imagine half of them chiming in with their own sirens when their shock sensors get set off.

Re:bomb squad

[Aphoxema]

Or the even more sensitive situation of having already soundproofed a room at great expense on a popular street so your baby can get some damned sleep.

mompressor?

[More_Cowbell]

I started to try and figure out what that would look like, and quickly discovered I do not want to know...

Oblig

[Digitus1337]

This ambulance goes to 11!

Re:Why is this on Idle?

[Adriax]

Because then they've got to follow the t-rex around with a giant pooper-scooper truck. And that's just silly.

Re:bomb squad

[philspear]

As someone who was effectively trained to only sleep in quiet situations like that, I have to say for the love of god, turn a TV on, vaccum while it's sleeping, poke it from time to time! It's HORRIBLE! When the neighbors are playing their TV with the subwoofer on, I toss and turn trying to think up ways to drown it out. If my wife is watching TV in the next room, forget about sleeping. Don't do that to your kid!

Visual Cues

[VoxMagis]

I ride a motorcycle, so I have come to the opinion that 90% of the drivers out there in their 'shiny metal boxes' are idiots.

I've come to the decision that all cars should be equipped with a flashing light on the dashboard or the steering wheel - RIGHT in front of the drivers face - that triggers whenever an emergency vehicle with lights/sirens is within a certain distance. In most urban areas now, emergency vehicles are equipped with signal devices that trigger traffic lights for them. Why not apply the same reaction to inside warning lights for the cars? Shoot - turn off their sound systems at the same time.

In the USA, we over-regulate vehicle safety standards already, to the point of goofiness, why not go ahead and add one more? One that actually has the potential to save lives?

Howler Siren Product/Specs Link

[Zymergy]

http://www.whelen.com/details_prod.php?head_id=9&cat_id=68&prod_id=415
Now I am wondering how to get one of these and tie it into my passenger car horn...
Horns are NOT what they used to be...

Directionality

[schwaang]

Actually add one more feature - directionality. Half the time when I hear a siren I can't tell where it's coming from. In France I can tell whether it's coming towards me or going away, and it's a big improvement.

As a sometimes cyclist of the motored and non-motored kind, as well as being a car driver, I've been on both sides of near accidents, so I have both bike-rage and "oops, I didn't see you" guilt. I think it would be great if motorcycles constantly emitted some kind of "I'm passing on your left, stupid" sound that you would only hear from about one car-length away. Harleys already have that effect built in, though not exactly for that purpose.

sickening?

[baomike]

It is well known that low freq sound can cause illness. Nausea and general sense of illbeing.

The paramedics arrive to too sick to function?

Re:bomb squad

[Chris Burke]

that. is. awesome. I can just imagine guys trying to pick up your mom -
Guy: Hey can I buy you a drink.
Your mom: *points at baby on bar* That's my kid.
Guy: ...?

Ha ha! I never thought of that, and yeah, that probably worked better than the other option.

Guy: Hey can I buy you a drink.
My mom: I'm married.
Guy: Yeah? Where's your husband?
My mom: He's on stage.
Guy: Oh. *starts to back off, but then thinks* Wait, which one?
My mom: The drummer.
Guy: Ah. So... can I buy you a drink?