COVID-19: Call for rapid sanitising technology for ambulances
26 Mar 2020 03:18 PM
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is looking for rapid sanitising technology to speed up the time it takes to clean ambulances to assist in the national effort...
Do you have an innovative or novel approach to get ambulances cleaner quicker to help combat Coronavirus?
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is looking for rapid sanitising technology to speed up the time it takes to clean ambulances to assist in the national effort to combat Coronavirus.
At this time, it can take up to 45minutes to clean an ambulance after they have transported a patient suspected to have COVID-19.
It has also been reported that some ambulance cleaning centres can be some distance away from their hospital or base, which adds delay and strain on workers to their already pressurised service. Vehicles cannot be used until they have been cleaned.
DASA has now launched a new Innovation Focus Area as part of its Open Call for Innovation, which is seeking industry’s help to identify sanitising technology solutions which can be demonstrated at a live trial in an ambulance.
The current Open Call cycle has been extended until 1 April 2020 for early bids to be considered.
Solutions must meet the following criteria:
- Be suitable for rapid deployment to clean public sector vehicles which have transported patients believed to have the COVID-19 virus.
- Have wider applicability than just ambulances. For example, buses, trains and other blue light services or even wards and hospital rooms.
- Mobile solutions, which allow ease of operation and maintenance.
- Reliable and robust
More details can be found here.
DASA is working in conjunction with the Welsh Government, The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Centre of Excellence, the Welsh Ambulance Service, Innovate UK, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).