Driving Emergency

Robb said:
Get dinged for what? Oh nvm I get it. I'm interested as well. I'm assuming abrupt or jerking movements of the steering wheel. Smooth is key :)

Our SOPs for emergent driving really aren't all that detailed. Drive with due-regard 85 MPH speed limit (maybe it's 80, I can't remember. Oh yea! That triggers the iDrive too), complete stop at all intersections, avoid passing on the right if possible, don't force people into intersections, if you're popping a curb do it slowly. Mostly common sense stuff.

We have a really dumb SOP about parking on scene though...We're not allowed to block with our rigs. Yea right...I'll gladly trade my job for my life and an ambulance. I'm sure the local media would love to hear that a Paramedic got canned because he used his rig to protect the scene before fire got there and it saved the crews' lives and the patients' lives.
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Our by the book speed limit is 75. It would be nice if they bumped it up to 80 or 85 for emergent driving. Our speed limit on the highway out here is 70 already, and when you're responding 50 miles away, the extra 15 mph cuts a lot of time off.
 
exodus said:
Our by the book speed limit is 75. It would be nice if they bumped it up to 80 or 85 for emergent driving. Our speed limit on the highway out here is 70 already, and when you're responding 50 miles away, the extra 15 mph cuts a lot of time off.
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Not to mention traffic is normally going 80mph anyway.
 
I want a growler or a rumbler :(
 
Robb said:
I want a growler or a rumbler :(
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It's nice. There's a way to set it too, where if we switch to yelp, the growler stays on the wail so you get the best of both clearing intersections!
 
exodus said:
Dang, we would never oppose here if we followed that guideline. Though, all our opticoms work well so I can count on one hand the number of times I have had to do it.

And why did you get dinged for performing a necessary emergency maneuver? Did you wait too long and jerk or something?
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I got dinged because it was a little jerky. Granted the steering was really loose. Just something I have to work on. I did re-read our protocols though, you are allowed to go opposing. But both shift commanders that I talked to (one is on the drive cam review board) told us if we get into an accident going opposing it will be deemed "preventable". I get what you're saying, on a 2 lane road I see no problem going opposing as long as you stop at the intersection if it's red. Still I would rather keep my job :D
 
Your company will probably provide you with an Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC, or sometimes called CEVO), which is pretty standard, and they'll have procedures in their policies & procedures. They might have you watch examples of both good and bad driving too.

Example policies & procedures:
  • Drive no faster than 10 mph over the posted speed limit while driving with warning devices.
  • No lights and sirens on freeways or highways unless the driver feels it will make a significant difference (eg dead stop traffic).
  • Stay in the further left lane on your side of the road since vehicles are supposedly going to yield right.
  • If you oppose traffic, go no faster than 15 mph and stay in the further right. Minimize opposing traffic.
  • Drive no faster than 40 mph in emergency lanes on the freeway/highways.
  • You can pass to the right of a vehicle only when you've determined it is safe to do so.
  • Make a complete stop at all red lights, stop signs, and school buses. Proceed when you've determined it's safe to do so.
  • Use warning devices when safe to do so.

Typically I see people using wail (T1) most of the time, and they switch to yelp (T2) when they are approaching and going through an intersection.

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Some ambulances will have a hands free (HF) mode. All you need to do is honk your horn to start the sirens and toggle between the different modes without having to turn the knob, which minimizes how often you let go of your steering. In my opinion, this is the safest way to drive with warning devices.

If your partner is up front with you, communicate with him well.

Obviously practice safe driving standards like making sure your mirrors are adjusted, and stuff like that.

In the end, ask yourself "Am I doing what is right?" You wouldn't believe how many problems we could solve if people just asked themselves that.
 
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I always try to look really far down the road, it helps to anticipate traffic changes. Be prepared for other drivers to slam on their brakes in front of you when driving emergency. I also found it useful to proceed slowly through red lights. If traffic was really bad, I'd turn off the lights and siren until we could move safely again. Dispatch didn't like it, but I'd rather arrive in one piece late than the alternative. Also, the mirrors are the widest part of the ambulance. Make sure you give them enough room. I hope this helps.
 
Every driver ought to undergo a little ride around the evoc course in the back on a spineboard.
 
Yes it is in your best intrest to take an Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention course where you will learn all this neat information you got here. Plus how to conrol a crash of your rig that causes the least amount of damage to lives and limbs. When it's just you and the road and all the other crazies out there, it will give you the confidence to avoid that crash in the first place.
 
Paramedic3 said:
Yes it is in your best intrest to take an Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention course where you will learn all this neat information you got here. Plus how to conrol a crash of your rig that causes the least amount of damage to lives and limbs. When it's just you and the road and all the other crazies out there, it will give you the confidence to avoid that crash in the first place.
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And we can give you the first answer to that damage control question here and now: SLOW THE HECK DOWN. Disconnect right foot from adrenal glands. ;)
 
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