Ride alongs before EMT-B.

[KirkAndrzejewski]

I have the opportunity to take a few ride alongs with my cousin before our EMT-B class. I'm very excited, and many of them are going to be 12 hour shifts, so I'll have a basic experience of what they go through, from station life, to emergency response, and everything in between.

My purpose for posting, is easy. What are your thoughts on student ride alongs? What am I to expect? Any tips to get the most out of my ride alongs? Is there proper ride-along etiquette? Should I ask questions and be very involved? OR should I sit back and observe quietly with an occasional inquiry?

Also, any advice for first time riders?

 

[teedubbyaw]

Dress nice, stay out of the way, and ask appropriate questions at appropriate times.

Are you riding with a transport service or county ems?

 

[KirkAndrzejewski]

The ambulance service is run out of the hospital, and is owned by the hospital. It has two outposts on each sides of the city (hospital in the middle). I'm going to be at the "east campus" as they say, even though its just a building with a garage and few trucks.

 

[KirkAndrzejewski]

They have a few BLS trucks and a few ALS trucks at each campus. I'm not sure if my ride along is an ALS truck or a BLS truck but I'm going to assume we'll be on a BLS truck.

 

[mycrofft]

Bring doughnuts. And like they said above.

 

[teedubbyaw]

They have a few BLS trucks and a few ALS trucks at each campus. I'm not sure if my ride along is an ALS truck or a BLS truck but I'm going to assume we'll be on a BLS truck.

I'm assuming this is a transport service then. You may also want to consider seeing if your county ems will allow you to do a ride along. You 'might' get to see some of the more exciting aspects of ems.

 

[Tigger]

Plenty of hospital based 911 services out there...