CA DMV Ambulance Certificate Test

Private ambulances should only respond if ...

CHP or Dispatch has authorized them

Definition of Ambulance:

Rescue vehicle modified to transport injured people

Code 3 operation uses ...

lights & sirens

3 reasons for Code 3 operation:

To save a life

Prevent undue suffering

Prevent disability

Do dismissed guilty vertics still count as convictions?

YES

All ambulances operating under the same license must display ...

the same name

How many hours of service per day are ambulance operators required to provide?

24 hours

Fire extinguishers must be inspected / serviced ...

Yearly or Immediately after use

Ambulances will be inspected by CHP ...

Initially

Yearly

Randomly

Destination Restriction for ambulances:

prevents ambulances from taking unnecessarily long routes

Good Samaritan Laws do not protect EMT's when ...

acts are grossly negligent or not in good faith.

Can CHP grant exceptions to statutory (regulation) requirements?

NO

Purpose of DMV ambulance certificate test is NOT to prove driving competence, but to ...

screen for ...

criminal backgrounds

physical disabilities

poor driving habits

You do not need an ambulance driving certificate if ...

You are a Police or Firefighter.

Licensed in an a different state (not CA) driving into CA.

6 Prerequisites for an Ambulance certificate:

18 years old.

Valid CA driving license.

Submit fingerprints for background check.

Submit driving record for traffic offenses.

Complete medical form DL-51 (DOT).

Pass a written test.

TEMPORARY ambulance certificates last ...

180 days

Ambulance certificates last ...

no longer than 5 years.

Expire when DL expires.

Conditional Validity means that an ambulance license is only valid with ...

Valid drivers license.

Medical (physical) examination certificate.

EMT certificate within 1 year of employment.

Ambulance Cert. Renewal is excepted ...

within 6 months of DL expiration.

For REVOKED ambulance drivers certificates ...

submit a written request for a hearing ...

within 10 days of revocation.

Hearing committees are composed of ...

3 members representing:

DMV

CHP

EMS Authority

An ambulance drivers primary responsibility is ...

Safe transport of patient.

Safe Ambulance Driving:

Not risking an accident!

Smooth driving ... to NOT stress/ traumatize the patient

& allows attendant to give medical care.

Code 3 operation's NEGATIVE effects:

Frightening patient.

Putting a stable patient into shock.

Disrupting medical treatment.

What percentage of ambulance trips require Code 3 transport?

5 - 7 %

Medical conditions for Code 3 transport:

Uncontrolled Hemorrhaging.

Uncontrolled Cardiovascular Impairment.

Uncontrolled Pulmonary (respiratory) impairment.

Complicated / Impending Childbirth.

When considering the use of Code 3, the seriousness of the emergency must be decided in favor of ...

The Patient

Driving in a way that risks loss of control of the vehicle or relies on other drivers / pedestrians to react, is justified in what circumstances?

Under NO circumstances!

Ambulance drivers are exempt from certain traffic laws when ...

Responding to an Emergency call (Code 3).

Displaying a steady burn red lamp w/ 1000 ft visibility.

What is NEVER justified for ambulances not obeying traffic laws?

Reckless driving.

Driving under the influence.

If a driver is involved in an accident, while being exempt from certain traffic laws, the driver can ...

still be criminally liable.

Criteria for determining if a driver exercised due regard toward the safety of others:

Sufficient notice of an ambulance's approach.

Necessity / Use of Signalling equipment.

Visibility / Audibility of Signally equipment.

Speed of the ambulance maintains complete control. Deceleration of ambulance before impact.

A RURAL driver going 55 mph w/ closed windows & radio playing may not hear the ambulance until it is ...

33 ft. away.

A CITY driver w/ his windows open may hear the ambulance when it is ...

123 ft. away.

Min. distance for visibility of red lights ...

1000 ft.

Code 3 transport Hazards:

Blind intersections.

Driveways

Motorists with impaired hearing.

Inattentive drivers.

When using sirens, drivers must ...

Assume others do not hear the siren, especially at intersections.

Assume drivers have difficulty locating the source of the siren.

Use the siren only when most effective.

Never pass on the right.

Warning lamps are used to ...

protect life and property!

Excessive use of warning lamps ...

reduces the public respect of it's purpose.

Front steady-burn red warning lights should be displayed ...

in Extreme Hazards

Though this does NOT satisfy the requirements of a steady-burn lamp, the following can SUPPLEMENT ...

Revolving, Rotating, or Flashing red lamps.

Flashing Red Lights is used when ...

An extreme Hazard exists.

What is an extreme Hazard?

Any incident that requires traffic to ...

Stop

Be blocked

Needs to be directed.

Flashing Amber Lights is used when ...

An UNUSUAL traffic hazards exists & until hazard ceases to exist.

Warning Lamp effectiveness is reduced by ...

Sun glare.

Confusion with traffic lights.

Lamp's mounted position of high or low.

Why are headlamps used in the daylight?

They increase visibility

What is defensive driving:

Doing everything possible to avoid accidents.

What is a preventable accident:

One where the driver FAILED to take precautions to avoid the accident.

Defensive driving requires:

Continual sound judgment & good driving habits.

Awareness that other drivers cannot be relied upon.

What is a prerequisite for safe driving?

Physical Fitness

Criteria for Defensive Driving:

Knowledge: Rules of the road & vehicles limitations.

Alert: Potential hazards.

Vision: visibility decreases when speed increases.

Judgement: knowing what to do.

Skill: handling an ambulance.

Loss of control is often due to ...

Driving to fast for road conditions.

Accelerating too hard.

Braking too hard.

Changing direction too hard.

Taking a curve fast.

Minor backing accidents result in ...

Job loss!

Ambulance out of service.

Costly repairs & insurance.

Additional paperwork.

Bad public image.

When backing up an ambulance, a crew member assists by ...

directing outside the vehicle & on the left-rear-side of the ambulance. (standing behind the driver's side).

Before backing up the ambulance ...

Check for pedestrians & obstacles.

Sound the horn!

While backing up the ambulance ...

Go Slowly.

Check mirrors constantly.

Intersection are the most likely cause of accidents because ...

Visibility is obstructed.

Drivers misjudge clearance.

Motorists may not see or hear the ambulance.

Ambulances meeting at an intersection.

When approaching an intersection, drivers should check for...

actual hazards & potential hazards in advance.

At intersections the driver should look ...

Left, Right, Left

The driver should always maintain a safe ... distance.

Following distance

Safe following distances allows for ...

stopping or steering around a vehicle to avoid collision.

A safe following distance should be ...

Greater than the distance required for a reaction time of 3/4 of a second.

Shorter than the total stopping distance.

An ambulance should keep a distance rule of at least ...

3 seconds

If ambulance is large /heavy, increase following distances by ...

50%

If road is slippery /loose, increase following distances by ...

2x

If vision is obscured or driver is NOT alert, increase following distances by ...

2x

If road is icy /snowed, increase following distance by ...

3x

Passing a vehicle at 40-60 mph takes ...

10 seconds.

When passing a car ...

Don't hesitate.

Stay in the passing lane, pass on the left!

Scan for intersecting roads & driveways.

Be prepared to abort.

When driving at high speeds ...

Don't go fast around turns.

PUMP breaks to slow down.

When speed is doubled (2x), then braking distance ...

quadrupled (4x)

In hazardous road conditions check the vehicle's ...

Wiper blades

Heater/ Defroster

Lights

Brakes

Tires

Steering

In hazardous road conditions drive ...

At Appropriate speeds.

Increase following distance.

During darkness/ night, keep the vehicle's

Windshield Clean.

Instrument Lights Dim.

During darkness / night, drive

With eyes moving.

Slow speed on turns.

What prevents hydroplaning?

Slow speeds.

Inflated tires.

Deep tire treads.

Responsibility for the MECHANICAL safety of the ambulance rests with the ...

Driver

Responsibility for EQUIPPING / MAINTAINING the ambulance rests with the ...

Owner

Drivers should inspect the ambulance ...

before operating!

Drivers should confirm that scheduled vehicle maintenance has been performed at ...

established intervals

Drivers should confirm the ambulance's previous deficiencies have been ...

Corrected / Fixed

Drivers should determine if the ambulance is ... for emergency operations.

Safe.

Equipped.

Maintained.

It's illegal for an owner to permit the operation of an ambulance that is not ...

Equipped.

Make sure to inspect for what harmful gas in ambulances?

Carbon monoxide. (CO)

Requiring an ambulance drivers certificates is helpful because ...

Reduces Training Costs.

Pre-employment Screening.

Allows EMT partners to take turns driving.

Responsibility for ensuring that there are NO unlawful drugs / equipment on the ambulance rests with the ...

Owner

Responsibility for EMS training, certification, & scope of practice in CA, rests with ...

The EMS Authority

Minimum certification requirement for an ambulance attendant is a valid ... certificate.

EMT (aka EMT-1) certificate

Regulations apply to which emergency ambulance services:

Private.

Public.

Volunteered.

Subscription.

Industrial.

Can CHP give exemptions on training / education standards established by the EMS Authority?

NO

Training for all pre-hospital staff must include being trained in preventing ...

Infectious Disease.

Hazardous Materials Incidents.

Who must EMS contact for policies, procedures, & scope of practice questions on the job?

Medical Direction

Ambulances should have seat belts for ...

EVERY seat!

Children / infants not secured to a gurney should be secured by ...

Child / infant restraints.

Are drivers / passengers seated in the front of an ambulance required to wear seat belts?

NO

Does safety equipment include heating and air conditioning?

YES

Ambulances should carry extrication equipment depending on ...

if it is readily available from other rescue units.

Ambulance cots should be capable of being ...

Collapsible.

Elevated from head or feet.

Adjustable from 4 positions.

Mattresses should be covered with ...

Impervious (impermeable) plastic material.

Ankle & wrist restraints should measure ...

3" to maintain a 2" width.