Anyone who has been rushed into hospital in an ambulance will understand how the experience can be frightening. However, for a child it can be absolutely terrifying.

Well, the Saoirse Foundation have gone to great lengths to make that experience a little less intimidating. Today, September 6th, the Bumbleance was revealed, the world's first interactive ambulance.

Tom and Mary Heffernan are behind the project. They developed the idea after the daughter sadly passed away in an ambulance. They are also parents to their five-year-old son who is terminally ill with less than a year to live.

All medical equipment on the ambulance is hidden and the child can control an online media system which includes an LED TV, Playstation, iPad mini as well as a full library of films, e-books and music.

The idea behind the ambulance is that the child will arrive at the hospital less stressed and therefore in less pain.

Mr. Heffernan is working on having 5 Bumbleances in operation by 2015.

What an amazing project.

Thanks to Irish Times for images.