Daytrucks?

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Cobra01

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Hey everybody,

I was talking with someone from an ambulance company which I will soon be hoping for employment from, and was told that I would be on a daytruck...

I know every company is different, but in your department, what exactly is a day truck? Is it a fully loaded ambulance with lights and sirens, or god forbid, a wheel chair van/transport truck?
 
Well there is an ambulance shift at my service from 7A-7P. But as far as DAY ONLY you have the transport truck (wheelchair). But talking to the wheelchair folk is still great.
 
rhan101277 said:
Well there is an ambulance shift at my service from 7A-7P. But as far as DAY ONLY you have the transport truck (wheelchair). But talking to the wheelchair folk is still great.
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This could be the case however I worked for a company in Los Angeles that had day trucks and night trucks that went from 0600-1800hrs for day and 1800-0600 for night trucks so it all is kind of dependent on the service the area and the call volume.
 
Cobra01 said:
Hey everybody,


I know every company is different, but in your department, what exactly is a day truck? Is it a fully loaded ambulance with lights and sirens, or god forbid, a wheel chair van/transport truck?
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Did you take your EMT course to drive fast?
 
Day trucks (or day cars/carts) usually refer to ambulances that staff employees with 10/12 hour shifts. These shifts are typically assigned during the day (hence the day part of the equation). These "day trucks" usually end up seeing more action, since they tend to be covering for other areas or taking calls (instead of watching TV at the station).

This is just from experience here in Los Angeles though.
 
Your best bet would be to ask your friend what he or she meant.

A day truck, to me, refers to a unit that works the day shift. If you're working for a private company you'll most likely be scheduled so that you may transport dialysis patients and routine type calls during the day.
 
Don't knock wheelchair transports! They are easy and the patients are typically talkative.
 
Cobra01 said:
No. I just don't want to be stuck doing transports instead of seeing any action.
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Even if you do end up doing a wheelchair van transport stay positive. It's a great way to learn the area, learn about patients and get to know your coworkers before riding the in the Lance with them... Also learn the facilities you will be delivering to and possible pick ups.

If it is the wheelchair, stay positive and ask when advancement opportunites will be available.
 
I did wheel chair van for approx 3 months; saw more 'action' than I did in my first 6 months on a BLS truck.
Had multiple patients pass out, 2 died en route, 1 dead on arrival to take to doctor, 1 dead when I tried to pick them up at the doctor (they were pissed when I wouldn't take her back to the ECF).

I always did a mental workup on my passengers, what they look like, how they act; especially the ones you transport alot; you can always tell when they are sick.
Also, be nice to them, hold their hand for 20 sec when you first get to them; (you get skin temp, feel, and pulse that way), shows the person that you care.
and remember if anything happens to the person while you are with them, you will be by yourself for the first 5-20 minutes. BLS CPR sucks when you are alone.
 
Also: you never have to argue about where to eat, and what music to listen to; although I used to have a couple of preset stations for oldies, and big band era for the older passengers; they like that.

you do learn the area; and you can drive anywhere you like.

I had a few passengers that told me it was a beautiful day for a drive, and I would stay off the freeways, and drive through pretty areas for them, they liked it and so did I
 
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