Getting Safely to the Scene

V

VentMedic

Forum Chief
Messages
5,923
Reaction score
1
Points
0
This is a good article with some good advice for driving any emergency response vehicle safely.

http://www.ems1.com/Columnists/jason-zigmont/articles/406037-Getting-Safely-to-the-Scene

Getting Safely to the Scene

Fifteen firefighters were killed in 2006 alone responding to and returning from the scene and countless others were injured. Volunteers have gained a bad rep for responding, both in our personal and emergency vehicles. It's time we — and career firefighters — changed that to save not only the lives we are responsible for but our own, too.
Click to expand...



  • Always buckle up
  • Always stop at red lights and stop signs
  • Always drive at speed limits and defensively
These three points may seem to be common sense, but they are often ignored. While using our lights and sirens may allow us to break motor vehicle laws, it must be done with due regard for safety — and our safety should always come first.
Click to expand...


One last thing on driving safely… The same policies should be in place for personal vehicles as apparatus including training, seat belts, speed, and intersections. Every member should have to complete an EVOC program or the like, even before responding in their personal vehicle with a courtesy light. What is amazing is that departments will not allow young members or those without training to drive their apparatus in emergency mode, yet turn a blind eye to how we respond in our personal vehicle.

We tell our members not to break the law, but then see them coming around the corner on two wheels. This double standard cannot exist in a professional volunteer department. It is time we make sure that we are safe responding both to and from emergency and non-emergency calls.
Click to expand...
 
EVOC is a great idea. We just elected a new training officer at my VFD so I think I'll see if he's interested in getting a class up.

I don't have a dashlight and, as I told someone in the chat last night, I'm not sure that I will be getting one. My main response area is small so I can be anywhere I need to be quickly but still within a speed limit and safely. I know that other areas might be different but this is how mine is. If there's no need for one, don't get it unless you're required to.
 
I agree especially in a volunteer setting where we may not run as many calls that education is the key. For example in our volunteer rescue agency we instituted a policy about twenty years ago in an effort to reduce the chances of accidents. a person(regardless of age) must be a member for at least one year and take a EVOC class before driving emergency traffic. This includes in a POV. This means if your year is up in June and your next chance to take EVOC is not until August then you have to wait until after your class.While we can not be with someone in their own car we do try to watch out for probie members and observe their driving habits. We also urge all members to take refresher driving classes. Not sying that the system we use is perfect but it must work. We have been fortunate in the fact that in the last twenty years the only squad vehicle in an accident was sitting still when it was hit from behind. W also have had no POVs involved in accidents while responding.
 
Why is EVOC not required before anyone is allowed to drive any emergency vehicle? One could not expect nothing but trouble otherwise. It is hard to believe that any service does not mandate yearly EVOC training, yet again we are talking about emergency services.

R/r 911
 
We spend considerable amounts of time training on how to be safe on the fireground,
Click to expand...

What the hell is someone doing talking about the fire ground on a supposively EMS based site?
 
JPINFV said:
What the hell is someone doing talking about the fire ground on a supposively EMS based site?
Click to expand...

Do the concepts of safe driving for emergency vehicles change?

Many of us are associated with Fire Based EMS and do take our safety seriously when responding to an emergency regardless of the "us vs them" mentality that continues to fragment EMS. An EMT, Paramedic, FF or LEO are still human regardless of the uniform they wear and a life can still be lost if a few safety steps are ignored.
 
Sounds just like the the t/c we just had. It was 3 t/c at the same place. here how it went. Car vs. Car. FF show up, CHP,LSU. FF truck goes to leave, when a car runs into it (FF down). Now we have 2 t/c. That mess is being cleaned up when, the CHP officer takes the person that ran into the fire truck into his squad car to talk and what not. Then a car driven by a person talking on her cell phone, ran into the back of another car stopped for the t/cs, which forced her to run into the squad car. LOL best random radio traffic ever..(only because I knew no one was hurt, just a few scrates and bruises).

This thread just reminded me to always keep an eye out, people suck at driving and we have big toys that do big damage. Be safe.
 
Another very good article which was discussed on this forum after the MVC that prompted it.

Ambulance Accidents: When Will We Wake Up?

  • Steve Wirth
  • 2007 Aug 31
http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/columns/PWW/Ambulance_Accidents_When_Will_We_Wake_Up.html



  1. Put the right people behind the wheel in the first place;
  2. Monitor driver behavior closely and truly take the steps necessary to change behavior when problems occur; and
  3. If you can’t change bad driving behavior, then get that driver the hell out of the driver’s seat before someone gets killed.
Click to expand...
From the article:

1. Screen Drivers

2. Assess Hands-On Driving Skills

3. Teach the Mechanics of Operating Larger Vehicles

4. Add Electronic Vehicle Monitoring

5. Consider Use of Computer Simulators

6. Set the Right Culture from the Top Down

7. Don’t Ignore Bad Behavior

8. Limit the Number of Rescue Vehicles

9. Get the Job Done and Leave

10. Think Before You Respond
 
We have incorporated in the EVOC course I teach, using a driving simulator. It is a cooperative agreement with the LEO, FD and even sanitation unit. It costs over 6 figures but does have some nice qualities to give those not use to driving some "unexpected" emergencies in a controlled setting.

Of course classroom and then followed driving in a controlled course is next. The EVO is then monitored for safe and smooth driving. Each person has to re-cert every year.

drivesimulator.jpg
 
Hey R/R,
Have you had anyone get pretty badly motion sick in one of those simulators? Any thoughts on how to avoid the pukies?

(Except an IV infusion of Phenergan, or Pez-dispenser Zofran tabs...)
 
Ironically, it can make one a little weird feeling. Especially, when you have the siren going, and making 360 degree turns. It does make some valid points of staging and parking your unit as well as blind corners.

R/r 911
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top