California Ambulance Drivers License

docholiday07

Forum Probie
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Having huge huge problems with getting my ambulances drivers license.

I went in thinking my EMT-I class would have prepared me for it, and took it. I failed once, and looked at what i failed, and figured going over it again and taking it again would help me pass. I didn't, and only got 5 wrong *lame*. The lady at the DMV told me that i only get to take it one more time, but i didn't ask what she meant.

Now I'm afraid that if i fail this last time, that ill be barred from getting my license for too long. I only have like 4 weeks to get a job before I lose support from my parents, and without my license, I'm gonna have a problem.

Can someone fill me in on what happens if you fail 3 times? I've heard horror stories, where you have to get your EMT-I again, and things, and I just don't have that kind of time, or money.
 

firetender

Community Leader Emeritus
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His very first post and it'll cost him five bucks?

Tell you what...If the book doesn't have EVERYTHING you need in it to pass the test, I'LL refund your lousy five bucks!

Find THAT guarantee on some other EMS site!
 
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Veneficus

Forum Chief
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Get the book and read it

People get paid to write these tests...
By the really ignorant people who make up the law requiring it.


When I worked in LA (Louisiana, the heart of modern civilization) I had to take a test at the DMV to get a commercial operators' license to drive an ambulance. I think they called it a "chauffeurs’" license

My favorite question on the test:

"How far can your load stick out ("protrude" would be too big of a word for this test) from the vehicle before you need to attach a orange flag to it?" (I don't remember the answer, it was several feet)

I can just imagine tying an orange flag to a pt. foot with the doors hanging open driving down the road. (could have been for a properly applied traction splint. I have an x-ray of an improperly applied one doing absolutely nothing because the medics said they couldn't extend it and close the back doors, that I show all of the students I encounter.)

Strangely enough the orange flag wasn't covered in EMT or paramedic school, so I can see where somebody thinking it was a test for an ambulance driver could fail.

A better question would be "how much can your patient have to weigh before you must get an escort and attach a banner that says "oversized load?"

However, as noted, the DMV book does have all the answers in it, and most DMV material is comprehendible if you made it through kindergarten.
 

EMSLaw

Legal Beagle
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A better question would be "how much can your patient have to weigh before you must get an escort and attach a banner that says "oversized load?"

Do you then have to have a fly car follow behind you as an escort vehicle? ;)

Considering oversize loads are usually things like modular houses, I hope to never see a patient that big. :D
 

Veneficus

Forum Chief
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Do you then have to have a fly car follow behind you as an escort vehicle? ;)

Considering oversize loads are usually things like modular houses, I hope to never see a patient that big. :D

My law of bariatric patients #1:

The size of the patient is inversly proportional to the space they are stuck in.

I have had to cut people out of both mobile homes and static ones.

My favorite was a person who was so heavy her family cut a hole in the floor of the mobile home so she could excrete into a sawed off garbage can beneath it. It took 14 responders and 6 male family members to lift her out of the hole when she sank into it.

The best part was the whole time I was crushing the rogue butter cookies that fell between her an the matress.

My favorite in the hospital was sending a patient IFT to the local zoo because she could fit on the CT scanner there. (~850 lbs)

"Oversized load" is not an outrageous discriptor.
 

kevinlevi

Forum Ride Along
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why all the :censored::censored::censored::censored: talking?

ok so tell me this! why is it that every single person that wrote back has to talk :censored::censored::censored::censored:! th man asked one simple question an u guys have to blow him up about it an make him feel like crap! im shocked u guys are even one this post we are one big family in a way! we all have one thing incommon! EMS! no need for the :censored::censored::censored::censored: talking!
dont worry man if u fail 3 time u have to wait i think 6 months an then u will be able to pay an take the test another 3 time.
hope that helps
 

TransportJockey

Forum Chief
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It's just we see so many threads on this it's rediculous. There are plenty of topics on that stupid CA ambo license
 

atropine

Forum Captain
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I work in Southern Cali and never heard of an ambulance drivers licnese. I even sometimes drive an ambulance.:rolleyes:
 

MrBrown

Forum Deputy Chief
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To the OP, if you are unable to critically think how to ask the right people the right questions about such a simple matter, it leaves many of us to wonder if you can handle some of the things seen in the ambulance service.

However it seems critical thinking is not required in todays modern society.
 
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OP
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docholiday07

Forum Probie
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lol o you mean like asking a community of EMTs, since the DMV was closed?
ooooooooooooooooooo like thatttttt
being a smart *** doesn't work so well when your points are stupid

obviously the logical course of action if the DMV was closed, which it was, was to find another place to get an answer

way to be an unhelpful jackass tho, you are a paragon of empathy and benevolence, and im sure this translates right over to your patient care
 
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MrBrown

Forum Deputy Chief
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lol o you mean like asking a community of EMTs, since the DMV was closed?

You did not mention the DMV was closed.

You did not mention if you called and asked them.

You did not mention if you looked on thier website.

You did not mention if you searched the gazillion threads on the California DL Ambulance Endorsement that exist on this site.

You did mention that you thought your EMT class would prepare you for the Ambulance Endorsement test, this shows you failed to actually look at what the test involved or do any research beforehand.

You did mention it was "lame" that you failed because you only got five answers wrong. Well this obviously puts your score low enough to not pass and I do not see how this possibly lame.

You did mention the lady at the DMV told you could only take the test once more, well if passing the Ambulance Endorsement test was so important because it means getting a job and an income, would it not be prudent to ask at that time "what happens if I fail again?".

Dude I'm not trying to be a jerk but when you so non-chalantly rock up and show you've failed to adequately prepare for this test and possible things that can go wrong if you don't pass then it makes me wonder if you'll do the same with a critically sick patient.

You need to think one step ahead; what could be wrong? what do these symptoms mean? what can I do about it? do I need backup? how are away is my backup? should I give this drug? what happens if I give it? if it doesn't work what am I going to do? ... and so on.

Anyway, good luck with your test I hope you pass :)
 
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OP
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docholiday07

Forum Probie
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You did not mention the DMV was closed.

You did not mention if you called and asked them.

You did not mention if you looked on thier website.

You did not mention if you searched the gazillion threads on the California DL Ambulance Endorsement that exist on this site.

You did mention that you thought your EMT class would prepare you for the Ambulance Endorsement test, this shows you failed to actually look at what the test involved or do any research beforehand.

You did mention it was "lame" that you failed because you only got five answers wrong. Well this obviously puts your score low enough to not pass and I do not see how this possibly lame.

You did mention the lady at the DMV told you could only take the test once more, well if passing the Ambulance Endorsement test was so important because it means getting a job and an income, would it not be prudent to ask at that time "what happens if I fail again?".

Dude I'm not trying to be a jerk but when you so non-chalantly rock up and show you've failed to adequately prepare for this test and possible things that can go wrong if you don't pass then it makes me wonder if you'll do the same with a critically sick patient.

You need to think one step ahead; what could be wrong? what do these symptoms mean? what can I do about it? do I need backup? how are away is my backup? should I give this drug? what happens if I give it? if it doesn't work what am I going to do? ... and so on.

Anyway, good luck with your test I hope you pass :)

Oh, i do fine with care giving, assessments and all that, I was wrongly informed by my instructors that their class would have prepared me for the ambulance drivers test. They said, in a nutshell, "Yah the test is a joke, just remember that you don't want to kill your patient, and you should be fine. Your employer is going to teach you everything anyways."

Also, I didn't feel it was important to give all the steps i took before asking on the forums, as they were non relevant to my question. I was looking for an answer, and don't need to justify my inquiry for everybody on the internet. I purely needed it answered. I do sympathize with your "Wtf another CADL loser, go use Google!" sentiment tho, as I'm sure it gets irritating answering the same questions over and over. However, without prior knowledge of the forum layout, the search function is next to useless.

Also, I take my duty as an soon-to-be EMT quite seriously, and am constantly researching and learning new things in order to better my quality of care, in case you were wondering. I'm not the kind of guy who signed up for the job because I wanted a cool patch on my jacket.
 
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