The Possum
Forum Crew Member
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I'm waiting for my orientation to begin at AMR. In the meantime I was going to work a few shifts for a small BLS firm in the general area where I live. It's actually about 42 mi from my house to their station. They did not have trousers that would fit me so I had to buy my own. That was $55. They told me to come in for orientation on a Saturday at 3:00. I have a lot of experience as an EMT but I'm just coming back to the field.
I arrived at their facility expecting to check out the ambulance and get ready for a 12-hour swing shift. Instead I was told that we would not be working BLS. In fact we would be working on a psychiatric guerney van. I was a bit surprised by this and taken back as this was not what I had been expecting. I was then told that there was no air conditioning in the van. It was 100° where the station was and our first pickup for our first call was in a town 50 mi east of us called Antioch. It was currently 105° in Antioch. I was then told by the trainer who was orienting me that the psychiatric van needed new master brake cylinder and as I was checking out the vehicle the check engine light was on and so was the oil change light. The vehicle had 312,000 mi on it.
I told the trainer I don't feel safe doing this. I don't believe this is a safe vehicle to drive to Antioch and then subsequently on a 100-mile transport to Sacramento California. I asked why we could not switch into any of the other ambulances or vehicles that they had. There were about four other vehicles. I was then told that was not an option. The trainer then said to me the call is coming up and you need to make a decision. Are you going to run the call or not? I told him there was no way I was going to put myself in that position and I did not feel safe doing it. He said okay then. So I take it you're refusing the call? And I said yeah I'm done I'm out.
I currently work in a large industrial facility as a health and safety officer. So I do know a lot about health and safety as I also have a bachelor's degree in public health. I did not feel this was a safe situation for myself, my partner or the patient.
Am I wrong?
I arrived at their facility expecting to check out the ambulance and get ready for a 12-hour swing shift. Instead I was told that we would not be working BLS. In fact we would be working on a psychiatric guerney van. I was a bit surprised by this and taken back as this was not what I had been expecting. I was then told that there was no air conditioning in the van. It was 100° where the station was and our first pickup for our first call was in a town 50 mi east of us called Antioch. It was currently 105° in Antioch. I was then told by the trainer who was orienting me that the psychiatric van needed new master brake cylinder and as I was checking out the vehicle the check engine light was on and so was the oil change light. The vehicle had 312,000 mi on it.
I told the trainer I don't feel safe doing this. I don't believe this is a safe vehicle to drive to Antioch and then subsequently on a 100-mile transport to Sacramento California. I asked why we could not switch into any of the other ambulances or vehicles that they had. There were about four other vehicles. I was then told that was not an option. The trainer then said to me the call is coming up and you need to make a decision. Are you going to run the call or not? I told him there was no way I was going to put myself in that position and I did not feel safe doing it. He said okay then. So I take it you're refusing the call? And I said yeah I'm done I'm out.
I currently work in a large industrial facility as a health and safety officer. So I do know a lot about health and safety as I also have a bachelor's degree in public health. I did not feel this was a safe situation for myself, my partner or the patient.
Am I wrong?
