Hero MotoCorp recently donated four specially-modified motorcycle ambulances to the Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The two-wheeled ambulances or First Responder Vehicles (FRV) are based on the Hero Xtreme 200R motorcycle.
Modifications to the Xtreme 200R include the addition of a full stretcher with a foldable hood mounted on the side, essential medical equipment such as a detachable first-aid kit, oxygen cylinder, and fire extinguisher. Other safety features such as LED Flasher Lights, foldable beacon light, emergency wireless public announcement system, and siren have also been added.
Hero MotoCorp says these vehicles have been designed and developed by the engineers at Hero’s Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur and the New Model Centre (NMC) at its manufacturing facility in Gurugram.
Hero MotoCorp had earlier announced that it had earmarked 60 Xtreme 200R motorcycles to be converted into First Responder Vehicles. The vehicles will be used to deliver patients to the nearest community healthcare centre, and will most probably be ridden by people with a reasonable knowledge of first aid and above-average motorcycling skills. First Responder Vehicles (FRVs) will be used to cater to people and communities inaccessible by larger, four-wheeler ambulances.
Another motorcycle well-suited for this role is the Hero XPulse 200, which is built from the ground-up to deal with broken roads and washboard surfaces. Hero MotoCorp might consider using them in the future, as they gradually expand their CSR activities to flood-hit and hilly areas.
In September, five FRVs were donated to government hospitals in Jaipur and Ajmer in Rajasthan, and four were handed over to local healthcare authorities in Halol, Gujarat in August. In August, two motorcycle ambulances were donated to the Civil Hospital in Gurugram.
To date, Hero MotoCorp has handed over more than 33 FRVs to the government authorities of various states
To date, Hero MotoCorp has handed over more than 33 FRVs to the government authorities of various states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and, most recently, Uttarakhand.
As part of its relief efforts for the people impacted by Covid-19, Hero MotoCorp has already distributed 14 lakhs meals, 37,201 litres of sanitizers, 31 lakhs face masks, and 32,000+ PPE kits to government hospitals, the police departments, and other agencies.
Commenting on the handover of the four FRVs to the authorities, Vijay Sethi, Chief Information Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer; Head Corporate Social Responsibility, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Continuing its assistance in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, Hero MotoCorp has undertaken on a new effort to provide first responder vehicles to front-line personnel from different state authorities to assist patients in rural and remote areas.
Designed and developed by the engineers at the Hero's Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur and the New Model Centre (NMC) in Gurgaon, the first responder vehicle is fitted with all the necessary medical equipment that offers urgent assistance to patients who need to be transported to the hospital.”
A few months ago, Hero MotoCorp had also pledged Rs100 crore as aid for the ongoing Covid-19 relief efforts in India. Half of this sum, Rs50 crore, went to the PM-Cares Fund and the remaining Rs50 crore will be spent on other relief efforts.