With more then one provider in the back I'd be hesitant to do this. My last job was at an ambulance service with an attached EMT program, so we had ride alongs all the time. Even with students who (supposedly) knew what they were doing, 3 people in the back of the box in addition to the patient on the cot started to get a little cramped.
Do you allow riders?
- Thread starter Shishkabob
- Start date
With more then one provider in the back I'd be hesitant to do this. My last job was at an ambulance service with an attached EMT program, so we had ride alongs all the time. Even with students who (supposedly) knew what they were doing, 3 people in the back of the box in addition to the patient on the cot started to get a little cramped.
Trashtruck
Forum Captain
- 272
- 1
- 0
It depends if people ride along. If you're a jerk off, absolutely not. Otherwise, sure, hop in. Parents always ride with kids...if the parents are around, that is.
Nobody sits up front, ever. I don't allow people up front when I'm driving, and I don't know anybody who allows people up front when they're driving. It's a distraction. Plus, nobody wants whatever filth the ride along brings with them from their abandominium of squalor to the front seat of the ambulance, where you have to sit afterwards.
As far as letting somebody ride along when the pt's critical? Yep. Sometimes they're the only historian you have. They're never a problem.
They just sit there and usually are too shocked at what's going on to really interfere with anything.
Nobody sits up front, ever. I don't allow people up front when I'm driving, and I don't know anybody who allows people up front when they're driving. It's a distraction. Plus, nobody wants whatever filth the ride along brings with them from their abandominium of squalor to the front seat of the ambulance, where you have to sit afterwards.
As far as letting somebody ride along when the pt's critical? Yep. Sometimes they're the only historian you have. They're never a problem.
They just sit there and usually are too shocked at what's going on to really interfere with anything.
chillybreeze
Forum Lieutenant
- 108
- 0
- 0
We usually allow people to ride with us but we dont allow them in the back. They have to sit up front. Too much stuff going on in the back and we dont want them in the way.....unless its the parent of a child of course and then we encourage them to ride with us in the back. Never had a problem with anyone stealing any of our personal stuff but we did have a rider eat our pizza though while we were occupied! Talk about pissed!! And when we asked them if they knew what happened to it they said they didnt know....while they had pizza sauce on the corner of their lips!!
I was thinking just the opposite. We always let and encourage family in the trauma and resus rooms at the hospital to watch, so why should the back of the ambulance be any different?
That is very reasonable.
Aidey
Community Leader Emeritus
- 4,800
- 11
- 38
We lean towards no, and it is one of those things where a few bad apples have ruined it. It is up to each crew, but everyone pretty much has a similar policy. Part of the reason is because if a family member complains it is easier to avoid someone screaming discrimination if we apply the same rules to everyone. People I work with have had incidents of family members grabbing the steering wheel and had flea infestations, so we're pretty cautious.
So, no riders under the following cases. If either them or the pt is under the influence of anything. If the pt is combative, chemically sedated or in restraints. If the pt is the victim or perpetrator of a crime, including suspected abuse cases. If we are going code 3*. And lastly if the person who wants to ride is exhibiting behavior that could put the crew/driver at risk.
*The reason for this is because I take code 3 driving very seriously. I'm putting everyone in the amb at a serious risk of injury and I'm not going to put anyone at risk that doesn't have to be in the amb.
So, no riders under the following cases. If either them or the pt is under the influence of anything. If the pt is combative, chemically sedated or in restraints. If the pt is the victim or perpetrator of a crime, including suspected abuse cases. If we are going code 3*. And lastly if the person who wants to ride is exhibiting behavior that could put the crew/driver at risk.
*The reason for this is because I take code 3 driving very seriously. I'm putting everyone in the amb at a serious risk of injury and I'm not going to put anyone at risk that doesn't have to be in the amb.
- 9,736
- 1,174
- 113
I'll take one, sometimes two in certain situations with a non-critical patient. Critical patient I'll take one rider.
They generally ride up front, in a forward facing seat, seatbelted in. They don't get in the cab until my partner is ready to hop up front and drive unless it's someone who I'm not worried about rifling through my stuff (read: elderly or "high class" for lack of a better term). Seems to be the opposite with most here. The cab of the ambulance is the safest place for them to be. A side facing bench seat is not a great place for anyone, but when it comes down to it, I'm covered by insurance from work and also am used to being in the back of the ambulance, family and friends are not. In select circumstances, listed below, I'll allow a rider in the back but if we're going code 3 to the hospital riding in the back with me and the patient isn't even an option.
Only time they're in the back is if I think it will benefit the patient or help me such as a pediatric patient, translation, calming, things of that nature that have already been covered.
I'm not a huge fan of having people in the back with me, especially with a sick patient. 1) they get in the way. 2) they can be very distracting and interfere. 3) it's not safe. If we are returning emergent I'll take one rider and they ride up front, not in back. I can still communicate with them to let them know what's going on and gather further information
With that said, it's my office, my rules. If you're being an :censored::censored::censored::censored::censored::censored::censored: then no, you cannot ride with me. I've pulled over a few times and booted an unruly family member out of the ambulance, in a safe place obviously but it's definitely happened.
I'll generally try to talk someone down on scene or have my partner do it if they're hyped up, if they can't calm down they can't ride. If they're being rude, sorry charlie, you're not coming. If they're an emotional disaster, well...that's a case by case basis. Do I want them trying to drive a car to the hospital in the state they are in? Do I want to be "that medic" who wouldn't let the husband ride because he was extremely emotional after we get ROSC on his wife and he wrecks his car on the way to the hospital?
They generally ride up front, in a forward facing seat, seatbelted in. They don't get in the cab until my partner is ready to hop up front and drive unless it's someone who I'm not worried about rifling through my stuff (read: elderly or "high class" for lack of a better term). Seems to be the opposite with most here. The cab of the ambulance is the safest place for them to be. A side facing bench seat is not a great place for anyone, but when it comes down to it, I'm covered by insurance from work and also am used to being in the back of the ambulance, family and friends are not. In select circumstances, listed below, I'll allow a rider in the back but if we're going code 3 to the hospital riding in the back with me and the patient isn't even an option.
Only time they're in the back is if I think it will benefit the patient or help me such as a pediatric patient, translation, calming, things of that nature that have already been covered.
I'm not a huge fan of having people in the back with me, especially with a sick patient. 1) they get in the way. 2) they can be very distracting and interfere. 3) it's not safe. If we are returning emergent I'll take one rider and they ride up front, not in back. I can still communicate with them to let them know what's going on and gather further information
With that said, it's my office, my rules. If you're being an :censored::censored::censored::censored::censored::censored::censored: then no, you cannot ride with me. I've pulled over a few times and booted an unruly family member out of the ambulance, in a safe place obviously but it's definitely happened.
I'll generally try to talk someone down on scene or have my partner do it if they're hyped up, if they can't calm down they can't ride. If they're being rude, sorry charlie, you're not coming. If they're an emotional disaster, well...that's a case by case basis. Do I want them trying to drive a car to the hospital in the state they are in? Do I want to be "that medic" who wouldn't let the husband ride because he was extremely emotional after we get ROSC on his wife and he wrecks his car on the way to the hospital?
Last edited by a moderator:
MrJones
Iconoclast
- 652
- 168
- 43
Working IFT, I tend to encourage a family member to ride along w/ 'fragile' DNR patients; I prefer to not have the "I'm sorry but..." conversation when I arrive at the destination when I can avoid it by having a family member along on the transport.
Trashtruck
Forum Captain
- 272
- 1
- 0
Thank you! Safety, stealing, infestations...I can't think of better reasons for not having strangers ride up front.
BeachMedic
Forum Lieutenant
- 198
- 23
- 18
More people need to take into consideration that statistically an ambulance is by far the deadliest vehicle on the road when involved in an accident. The back compartment crumbles like a soda can when it is hit. There is almost no frame reinforcement.
Just some food for thought. Not only for yourself, but also for that family member your strapping into a bench seat while driving code.
Just some food for thought. Not only for yourself, but also for that family member your strapping into a bench seat while driving code.
Easily resolved by not driving code?
BeachMedic
Forum Lieutenant
- 198
- 23
- 18
In most situations yes. In time sensitive situations like CVAs and severe hemorrhage, no.
VFlutter
Flight Nurse
- 3,728
- 1,265
- 113
Personally, I wouldn't consider most CVAs a situation to drive code. Stroke care and treatment windows are measured in hours not minutes. Saving 5 mins transport time is not going to do anything for the patient.
BeachMedic
Forum Lieutenant
- 198
- 23
- 18
Just an example. There are plenty of reasons a Medic would want to start a diesel infusion on a patient.
Last edited by a moderator:
I think you overestimate the benefit of driving code and the time saved.
Aidey
Community Leader Emeritus
- 4,800
- 11
- 38
I will say that in my case we only go code if the rules say we have to. So cardiac, stroke and trauma activations. I can get over ruled by a fire medic though, so it isn't always up to me.
BeachMedic
Forum Lieutenant
- 198
- 23
- 18
Possibly. It could be less education, comfort level, or past experiences. Every Medic is different.
For me, times when i'll have my partner drive code typically include: significant traumas, severe respiratory distress that is unresponsive to my treatment, STEMIS(time is tissue), arrhythmias with craptacular vitals, and ROSC. The list can do on and on with uncommon things like TCA ODs, organophosphate poisoning, or a pedi-resusitation.
Yes, CVAs are still a code 3 transport in my neck o the woods too. Get a detailed hx, pop a couple lines and off to the ER we go. Hopefully, getting them quickly to a CAT scan and if appropriate, some tPA.
At least for me and my current level of Paramedicine, I can't fathom a way completely r/o Code 3 transport all together.
Couple things I do know for a fact from past experience..There are times when we do arrive within that small window and a patient only has 10 minutes left to live. What we can do with field treatment while important, is very limited and emergency management only. A hospital that hopefully has the appropriate facilities is the definitive care. That and statistics prove that (at least in this day and age) it is much much better to go into cardiac arrest within hospital walls than it is to do it in the back of a rig.
BeachMedic
Forum Lieutenant
- 198
- 23
- 18
After re-reading my last post I feel like I went completely off topic and haven't said one thing you don't already know Veneficus.
Hope you don't take offense to that. Just trying to explain my reasoning.
Have a good day!
Hope you don't take offense to that. Just trying to explain my reasoning.
Have a good day!
No worries just trying to see where you are coming from.
the_negro_puppy
Forum Asst. Chief
- 897
- 0
- 0
We are pretty sensible about driving code here.
I drive code to hospital only a few times a year-
Major trauma
STEMI
Grossly unstable
I drive code to hospital only a few times a year-
Major trauma
STEMI
Grossly unstable
Usually no riders (Exception is calls involving a minor) and especially not during a code. During a code we usually have a medic and an EMT and 2 firefighters in the back with another EMT driving. Or 2 medics, an EMT, and a firefighter in the back with an EMT driving.
Its really nice to have two people switching off CPR, one person managing the airway, and the medic pushing drugs, no one has a secondary task, you can focus on your thing. Now having 4 people in the back of an ambulance makes it a little crowded...and yes, I wish we just worked and call or saved on scene..
On the running code thing, Quite a few medics around here won't run code on anything other then resusitation on scene and unstable as we move towards the hospital. And trauma's during weather where the chopper won't fly. Anything else is non emergent all the way. Some run stemi's in, most don't.
Some selectively use their lights, get on a road, run non emergent for three miles, approach your left turn, flip the lights and sirens on, come to a stop, make sure it is safe, proceed through the red light, cut the lights and sirens and proceed non emergent for another couple miles down another road...etc..etc...
Its really nice to have two people switching off CPR, one person managing the airway, and the medic pushing drugs, no one has a secondary task, you can focus on your thing. Now having 4 people in the back of an ambulance makes it a little crowded...and yes, I wish we just worked and call or saved on scene..
On the running code thing, Quite a few medics around here won't run code on anything other then resusitation on scene and unstable as we move towards the hospital. And trauma's during weather where the chopper won't fly. Anything else is non emergent all the way. Some run stemi's in, most don't.
Some selectively use their lights, get on a road, run non emergent for three miles, approach your left turn, flip the lights and sirens on, come to a stop, make sure it is safe, proceed through the red light, cut the lights and sirens and proceed non emergent for another couple miles down another road...etc..etc...