EMERGENCY DRIVING EMT 170 Cars & Radios

Hippocratic Oath First, do no further harm.

The Problem 6,500 reported crashes per year 60,000 “Wake affect” crashes 10 serious injuries a day 3 dozen deaths a year 9.6 per 100,000 fatalities –6.3 for police –4.5 for fire fighters –2.0 for average citizen

The Problem NHTSA –No ambulance safety standards –No crash testing Code 3 –Only saves 43.5 seconds average –Only 5% of EMS calls are emergencies –30-45% end in no transport How well is your cardiac patient doing?

The Solution? New standards? –Driver training/monitoring –Company policies Seat belts, speed, equipment secured –Dispatch prioritization –Ambulance design Safety, color, lights & sirens –Ambulance maintenance

Ambulance Driver Yes, we are still one The other side of patient care Keep the whole transport safe “Offensively Defensive”

Buckle Up Fatality risk for restrained ambulance occupants nearly four times lower Risk of incapacitating injury for restrained ambulance occupants was nearly 6.5 times lower Risk of a fatality vs. no injury for rear occupants of an ambulance was more than five times greater

Response Time “Running” to the Ambulance –Adrenalin Lights and sirens Speed

Lights Too many lights –Uncoordinated Glare –Sun –Spot When not to use

Siren Field of Invincibility?? Speech Sound projection Different modes –PA –Silent –Different tones

Speed Code 3 – Save 40 seconds Passing –Positioning (Telegraphing) –On the left Following others –Distance –Emergency vehicles

Intersections Lights –Opticoms 20mph max thru intersections (Wilson Heirgood Associates) “Clear” Eye contact Visibility Passing the “turner”

Ambulance and patrol car run into in intersection!

Passing Always on the left Never (Almost Never) on the right Using the side of the road

Turning U-turn Three point

Slowing/Stopping Braking –How hard –Steering Avoid head on!!!

Parking at the Scene Pre-plan –What kind of scene Safety Blocking traffic Access Egress (Get’n out o’ there)

Be Smart, Be Safe