WPR Lublin MB Sprinter ambulanceSeptember 2008. A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter of the Lublin Regional Ambulance Service (WPR Lublin), reversing into its bay at the local fire station in Łęczna, Poland. The WPR uses 2 bays of the fire station for their MB Sprinter and Renault Master, while a reserve Renault Master ambulance is kept in the parking lot at the back.
Bodywork: Auto Form (Mysłowice, Poland)
Lightbar, beacon: Elektra (Warsaw, Poland)
Grill lights: Wesem (Wieliczka, Poland)
Siren: Elfir (Słupsk, Poland)
'C'-type vans like this one are typical for Central and Eastern Europe. 'R' stands for 'Reanimacja' (lit. 'resuscitation'), and was used as a label for advanced life support ambulances for almost three decades - hence the popular nickname 'eRka'. Today, the letter used is 'S' ('specialist').
999 is the emergency telephone number of the state ambulance service in Poland. Just like in ex-other Eastern Block countries, the police and fire service have separate numbers (these are 997 and 998, respectively). 112 has been in use for a few years (answered by either police or State Fire Service dispatchers), but the old ones exist parallel to the Europe-wide system, as the public are used to them and they are often much more reliable than 112.
Picture added on 26 April 2009 at 07:47
