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?

That's right..

[damn_registrars]

They're bringing change you can feel.

Oh, wait that was Oklahoma?

mompressor?

[More_Cowbell]

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

Re:Obligatory link

[Andr T.]

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

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: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: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?

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?