First responders and EMTs operate in one of the most high-pressure environments imaginable. Every inch of their workspace matters. Reaching for the wrong compartment or losing a few seconds untangling equipment can change patient outcomes.<\/p>\n
In many ambulances, outdated layouts and rigid seating designs force medics to unbuckle during care\u2014stretching across compartments or standing to reach equipment that\u2019s placed too far from their seated position. These daily movements, repeated thousands of times, increase the risk of injury and make it nearly impossible to stay safely restrained while treating a patient.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.demers-ambulances.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FXP-174-ambulance-1bkd-300x213.png\")
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Antoine Schryer, an engineer with Demers Ambulances\u2014a leading manufacturer known for their innovative designs\u2014has spent the last 10 years of his career gaining an understanding of the needs of first responders. A portion of his decade-long career with Demers was spent on their special request team, engaging with first responders to understand what innovations they want and how these innovations make a difference during calls.<\/p>\n
\u201cEMS professionals will always prioritize their patient over their<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
own safety,\u201d says Schryer. \u201cIt\u2019s up to leadership and manufacturers to give them tools that let them do both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Innovation Rooted in Real Feedback<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor engineers like Schryer, first responder feedback drives every design decision. The Demers team spends as much time listening as they do building\u2014gathering feedback at events, in focus groups, and on-site with first responders across North America.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe question our customers,\u201d he explains. \u201cWe ask not just what they want, but why they want it. When we understand the need, we can deliver a solution that truly fits.\u201d<\/p>\n
That approach led to the creation of the FXP 174, Demers\u2019s newest Type I ambulance, a platform shaped by hundreds of hours of real-world feedback. While most ambulances on the road today still rely on layouts developed decades ago, the FXP 174 advances those standards with a reimagined interior that centers the provider. It incorporates features directly inspired by the field, such as taller rear doors for safer entry, improved lighting for visibility and patient comfort, and a sealed pass-through window for better communication without noise or contamination.<\/p>\n
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The Seat That Redefines Crew Safety ![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/strong><\/h3>\nA 20-year study conducted by NHTSA showed that nearly 84% of EMS providers do not wear a seatbelt while providing patient care\u2014an issue that ambulance engineers have long tried to remedy. The FX Action Seat, the most talked-about innovation on the new FXP 174 ambulance, is a design that directly addresses that safety concern.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Traditional ambulance seats keep medics stationary and provide for little movement. Th<\/p>\n
e FX Action Seat redefines that. It allows full mobility while keeping the medic safely restrained with a four-point harness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge we set out to solve,\u201d says Schryer, \u201cwas keeping EMS crews seated and belted while providing patient care. The FX Seat does exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The result is a game-changer: medics can stay buckled during critical procedures, drastically reducing injury risk while maintaining full access to the patient and equipment. By making safety the easy choice, innovative design bridges the gap between care and protection.<\/p>\n
Smart Design Saves More Th<\/strong>a<\/strong>n Time<\/strong><\/h3>\nEvery smart design choice adds up, and its impact goes far beyond comfort.<\/p>\n
\n- Ergonomic layouts allow medics to stay seated and belted while performing most tasks, drastically reducing the risk of ejection and impact injuries during collisions or sudden stops.<\/li>\n
- Efficient workflows mean equipment is always within arm\u2019s reach, saving precious seconds during critical care and reducing repetitive motion injuries caused by awkward stretching and twisting.<\/li>\n
- Improved visibility and lighting systems reduce fatigue and enable faster, more accurate patient assessments.<\/li>\n
- Larger entry points and safer steps prevent daily wear-and-tear injuries that accumulate over a long career.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When first responders have fewer barriers in their way, they can work faster and stay focused longer, meaning fewer lost workdays, less turnover, and more experienced medics on the road when communities need them most.<\/p>\n
A Shared Responsibility for Change<\/strong><\/h3>\nSchryer believes that the future of ambulance design will be defined by collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FXP 174 isn\u2019t just the result of engineering, it\u2019s the result of conversation,\u201d he says. \u201cEMS leaders who speak up about what their crews need are shaping the next generation of ambulances.\u201d<\/p>\n
He encourages first responders and fleet managers to advocate for smarter design by prioritizing ergonomics, workflow, and safety when specifying their next vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cChallenge the status quo,\u201d he adds. \u201cAsk how each feature supports your crew\u2019s safety and performance. When you do, you\u2019re helping push the entire industry forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor Demers, innovation is never a one-time event; it\u2019s a constant pursuit. The FXP 174, already nominated for an industry innovation award, represents what\u2019s possible when human-centered engineering meets field-tested feedback. But as Schryer puts it, \u201cThe seat and ambulance is just the beginning. There\u2019s a whole future of technologies that can make life easier and safer for EMS providers. And we\u2019re already looking ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.demers-ambulances.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FXP-174-ambulance-5-300x213.png\")
<\/strong><\/h3>\nA 20-year study conducted by NHTSA showed that nearly 84% of EMS providers do not wear a seatbelt while providing patient care\u2014an issue that ambulance engineers have long tried to remedy. The FX Action Seat, the most talked-about innovation on the new FXP 174 ambulance, is a design that directly addresses that safety concern.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Traditional ambulance seats keep medics stationary and provide for little movement. Th<\/p>\n
e FX Action Seat redefines that. It allows full mobility while keeping the medic safely restrained with a four-point harness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge we set out to solve,\u201d says Schryer, \u201cwas keeping EMS crews seated and belted while providing patient care. The FX Seat does exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The result is a game-changer: medics can stay buckled during critical procedures, drastically reducing injury risk while maintaining full access to the patient and equipment. By making safety the easy choice, innovative design bridges the gap between care and protection.<\/p>\n
Smart Design Saves More Th<\/strong>a<\/strong>n Time<\/strong><\/h3>\nEvery smart design choice adds up, and its impact goes far beyond comfort.<\/p>\n
\n- Ergonomic layouts allow medics to stay seated and belted while performing most tasks, drastically reducing the risk of ejection and impact injuries during collisions or sudden stops.<\/li>\n
- Efficient workflows mean equipment is always within arm\u2019s reach, saving precious seconds during critical care and reducing repetitive motion injuries caused by awkward stretching and twisting.<\/li>\n
- Improved visibility and lighting systems reduce fatigue and enable faster, more accurate patient assessments.<\/li>\n
- Larger entry points and safer steps prevent daily wear-and-tear injuries that accumulate over a long career.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When first responders have fewer barriers in their way, they can work faster and stay focused longer, meaning fewer lost workdays, less turnover, and more experienced medics on the road when communities need them most.<\/p>\n
A Shared Responsibility for Change<\/strong><\/h3>\nSchryer believes that the future of ambulance design will be defined by collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FXP 174 isn\u2019t just the result of engineering, it\u2019s the result of conversation,\u201d he says. \u201cEMS leaders who speak up about what their crews need are shaping the next generation of ambulances.\u201d<\/p>\n
He encourages first responders and fleet managers to advocate for smarter design by prioritizing ergonomics, workflow, and safety when specifying their next vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cChallenge the status quo,\u201d he adds. \u201cAsk how each feature supports your crew\u2019s safety and performance. When you do, you\u2019re helping push the entire industry forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor Demers, innovation is never a one-time event; it\u2019s a constant pursuit. The FXP 174, already nominated for an industry innovation award, represents what\u2019s possible when human-centered engineering meets field-tested feedback. But as Schryer puts it, \u201cThe seat and ambulance is just the beginning. There\u2019s a whole future of technologies that can make life easier and safer for EMS providers. And we\u2019re already looking ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
When first responders have fewer barriers in their way, they can work faster and stay focused longer, meaning fewer lost workdays, less turnover, and more experienced medics on the road when communities need them most.<\/p>\n
A Shared Responsibility for Change<\/strong><\/h3>\nSchryer believes that the future of ambulance design will be defined by collaboration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FXP 174 isn\u2019t just the result of engineering, it\u2019s the result of conversation,\u201d he says. \u201cEMS leaders who speak up about what their crews need are shaping the next generation of ambulances.\u201d<\/p>\n
He encourages first responders and fleet managers to advocate for smarter design by prioritizing ergonomics, workflow, and safety when specifying their next vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cChallenge the status quo,\u201d he adds. \u201cAsk how each feature supports your crew\u2019s safety and performance. When you do, you\u2019re helping push the entire industry forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor Demers, innovation is never a one-time event; it\u2019s a constant pursuit. The FXP 174, already nominated for an industry innovation award, represents what\u2019s possible when human-centered engineering meets field-tested feedback. But as Schryer puts it, \u201cThe seat and ambulance is just the beginning. There\u2019s a whole future of technologies that can make life easier and safer for EMS providers. And we\u2019re already looking ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.demers-ambulances.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/FXP-174-ambulance-2bkd-300x213.png\")
<\/p>\nFor Demers, innovation is never a one-time event; it\u2019s a constant pursuit. The FXP 174, already nominated for an industry innovation award, represents what\u2019s possible when human-centered engineering meets field-tested feedback. But as Schryer puts it, \u201cThe seat and ambulance is just the beginning. There\u2019s a whole future of technologies that can make life easier and safer for EMS providers. And we\u2019re already looking ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n