Horton Emergency Vehicles, a subsidiary of REV Group Inc., announced the launch of Horton Occupant Protection System (HOPS) featuring MBrace. It's a-first-of-its-kind protection system for first responders.

The video above demonstrates how MBrace works.

Protecting Those Who Care for Us

MBrace is a patent-pending advanced airbag safety system designed specifically to protect emergency care providers inside the patient compartment during frontal impacts, in addition to ambulance rollovers. 

Horton is the first and only brand in the ambulance industry to offer MBrace, according to a press release. All Horton vehicle orders placed on or after April 1, 2023, will include the MBrace system as standard equipment. 

Independent data indicates that nearly 80% of accidents with ambulances that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries were frontal impacts. MBrace was developed to provide more protection against head and neck injuries during frontal impact collisions, in addition to ambulance rollovers. MBrace integrates an airbag into an innovative multi-point restraint that both protects emergency care providers while allowing them the mobility and freedom to work. Designed and engineered by IMMI and tested extensively with Horton ambulances at the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation (CAPE), MBrace takes EMS protection to a new level.

“Pioneering safety is in Horton’s DNA, and our partnerships with industry leaders, such as IMMI, have enabled us to keep advancing the level of safety that is available to emergency care providers”, Horton Emergency Vehicles Vice President and General Manager Mike Albers said. “We are excited to offer MBrace as standard equipment. Improving the safety of our ambulances is one of our highest priorities.”

Customers who already have a Horton ambulance on order can work with their Horton dealer to add MBrace to their order, depending on how far along it is in the design process. In addition, MBrace will be available for Horton remounts that are performed at the REV Remount Center in Grove City, Ohio.

MBrace is also being tested by the U.S. Military for use in humvees. A Horton spokesperson told Government Fleet that no military vehicles are currently equipped with advanced airbag safety devices.