CA Ambulance Certificate Practice

Private Ambulances may only respond to emergency calls if

CHP has authorized them to

Definition of Ambulance

Rescue vehicle

Vehicle modified to transport injured people

Code 3 Operation describes

use of lights and sirens

Code 3 is justified for 3 reasons

1 to save a life

2 prevent undue suffering

3 prevent disability

Do guilty vertics that have dismissed by courts still count as convictions?

Yes

Must all ambulances operating under the same license display the same name?

Yes

How many hours of service must be provided under each license?

24, unless the ambulance does not respond to calls from public agencies.

Fire extinguishers

must be inspected and serviced yearly or immediately after use

Ambulances will be inspected by CHP

initially

yearly

and randomly

Destination restrictions prevent

ambulances from taking unnecessarily long routes.

Escorts for patients: The prohibition against unqualified drivers and attendants serving as patient escorts does not exclude

Family,

other persons concerned with the patients well being

minors should be allowed to come whenever possible

Good Samaritan Laws do not protect EMT's when

acts or omissions are performed in a grossly negligent manner or not in good faith.

Can CHP grant exceptions to statutory requirements?

No

Purpose of DMV ambulance driver test is

not to prove driving competence, but to screen those with criminal backgrounds, physical disabilities, or poor driving habits.

You do not need an ambulance driving license if

are a police officer

firefighter

or if you are licensed in an a different state and driving in an emergency into CA.

6 Prerequisites to getting an Ambulance license.

1. 18 years old

2. or if you are licensed in an a different state and driving in an emergency into CA.

3. File a complete application including criminal convictions and certain traffic offenses

4. Pass a written test

5. Submit fingerprints

6. Complete medical form DL-51

Temporary certificates last _ days

180

Regular certificate lasts

no longer than 5 years, and expires the same day as your drivers license

Conditional validity means that your ambulance license is only valid when you have

valid drivers license

medical examination certificate.

and after one year an (EMT)-I certificate

Renewal Applications will be excepted

within 6 months of expiration of your drivers license.

If your ambulance drivers license is revoked, you can

submit a written request for a hearing within ten days.

Hearing committee is composed of

3 members representing the DMV, CHP, and EMS Authority.

An ambulance drivers primary responsibility is

Safe transport of the patient

Safe means

1. not risking an accident

2. smooth driving

   a) that does not stress or traumatize the patient

   b) that permits attendant to give medical care

Negative affects of Code 3 transport include

1. frightening patient

2. putting a stable patient into shock

3. Disrupting ongoing medical treatment

Medical conditions that require Code 3 represent _ percent of trips

5-7

Medical conditions that require Code 3 transport include

1. Uncontrolled hemorrhage

   a) internal chest or abdomen bleeding

2. Uncontrolled cardiovascular or respiratory impairment

   a) congestive heart failure

   b) wounds to the heart

   c) progressive pulmonary edema

3. Complicated or impending childbirth

   a) a case that requires operative intervention

Any doubt as to the seriousness of the emergency when considering use of Code 3, must be decided in favor of

the patient

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

Never

Ambulance drivers are exempt from certain traffic laws in what conditions

1. Responding to an Emergency call

2. Displaying a steady burn red warning lamp with 1000 feet of visibility in front of the vehicle

3. Reckless driving and driving under the influence are never justified

If a driver is involved in an accident, but was exempt from certain traffic laws can he still be criminally and civilly liable?

Yes, if he was not acting with due regard for the safety of others.

Determining if a driver exercised due regard toward the safety of others is based on what criteria:

1. Sufficient notice of the ambulances approach was given.

2. signalling equipment

   a) whether it was necessary to use it

   b) whether it was used

   c) whether it was audible and/or visible

3. speed of the vehicle should never prevent the driver from maintaining complete control of it.

4. If the driver decelerated before impact with a driver who did not yield

A rural driver at 55mph may not hear the wail of the siren if his windows are closed and the radio is playing until the ambulance is ___ away

33 feet

A city driver with his windows down may hear the siren when it is ___ away

123

Hazards when driving with Code 3 include

1. blind intersections

2. driveways

3. motorists with impaired hearing

4. inattentive drivers

When using a siren Ambulance drivers should

1. assume drivers do not hear the siren at safe distances under most conditions especially at intersections

2. assume drivers have difficulty locating the source of the siren

3. use the siren only when it is most effective

4. never pass on the right

When using a warning lamp

1. excessive use reduces public respect of their purpose

2. use primarily to protect life and property

Front steady burn red warning light should be displayed

when an extreme hazard exists

Do revolving, rotating, or flashing red lamps satisfy the requirement for a steady burn lamp?

No, but they can supplement it

Flashing red lights may only be displayed

when an extreme hazard exists, (meaning any incident that requires traffic to stop, be blocked, or proceed only as directed.

Flashing Amber Lights used

only for unusual traffic hazards, until hazard ceases to exist.

Warning Lamp effectiveness may be reduced by what 3 factors

1. low sun or glare

2. confusion with traffic signals and neon lights

3. Their position if mounted to high or low on the ambulance.

Should headlamps be used in the daylight?

yes, they increase visibility.

Definition of defensive driving:

doing everything reasonably possible to avoid accidents.

a preventable accident is one

in which the driver failed to take reasonable precautions to avoid the accident

Defensive driving requires

continual exercise of sound judgment and good driving habits with an awareness that all other drivers cannot be relied upon to drive safely

Is physical fitness a prerequisite for safe driving?

Yes.

Five elements of defensive driving

1. knowledge: of the rules of the road, his, and his vehicles limitations.

2. Alertness: of potential hazards

3. Vision: as speed increases visual accuracy decreases

4. Judgement: knowing what to do when

5. Skill: in handling an ambulance

Loss of control is often due to

1. driving to fast for the conditions

2. Accelerating too hard

3. Braking too hard

4. Changing direction to hard

5. Taking a curve to fast

Minor backing mishaps (crashes) result in

1. keeping an ambulance out of service

2. costly repairs

3. additional paperwork

4. poor public image

5. expensive insurance

6. job loss

Too back up a vehicle station a crew member

outside to the left rear of the vehicle

Before backing up check for

pedestrians and obstacles

Before backing up push

the horn

Back up at what pace

slowly

While backing up check your

mirrors constantly

Intersections are the most likely cause of accidents because

1. visibility is obstructed

2. Drivers misjudge clearance

3. Motorists may not see or hear the ambulance

4. Two or more ambulances meet at an intersection

At an intersection the driver should check for

actual and potential hazards well in advance of the intersection

At intersections the driver should look to the left, then

then to the right, then, the left again before entering the intersection.

Maintain a safe distance

following

A safe following distance enables a driver to

stop or steer around without crashing into a vehicle that stops suddenly

Is greater than the distance required to react (3/4ths of a second), but shorter

than the total stopping time

You should keep a separation of at least ____ between the ambulance and the next vehicle

3 seconds

If the ambulance is large or heavy increase following distances by

50%

If the surface is loose or slippery increase following distances by

2X

If vision is obscured increase following distances by

2X

If the driver is not fully alert increase following distances by

2X

If the road surface is packed snow or ice increase following distances by

3X

At speeds of 40 to 60 mph safely passing a vehicle takes

10 seconds

If you decide to pass a car and conditions are okay

1. don't hesitate,

2. stay in the passing lane,

3. scan the road for unmarked intersecting roads and driveways,

4. be prepared to abort.

When driving at high speeds

don't go to fast around turns

pump the breaks prior to immediate slowdown

when speed is doubled, braking distance

more than quadruples

In preparation for hazardous conditions be sure that _ equipment is in good condition

wiper blades, heater, defroster, lights, brakes, tires steering mechanism

In hazardous conditions drive at speeds appropriate for conditions and increase the

following speed

During darkness keep the windshield

clean

During darkness keep the instrument lights

dim

During darkness keep your eyes

moving

During darkness slow your speed considerably on

turns

slow speeds, _, and _____ prevents hydroplaning

inflated tires and deep treads

The responsibility for determining the mechanical safety of the ambulance rests primarily with the

driver

Responsibility for equipping and maintaining the ambulance rests with the

owner

Driver should inspect the ambulance when?

at the beginning of every shift

Driver should ensure that scheduled vehicle maintainence has been performed at established

intervals

In inspecting the ambulance the Driver should make sure previous deficiencies

have been corrected

The driver should determine if the ambulance is unsafe, not equipped, or maintained for

emergency operation

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

equpped as required

Make sure to inspect for carbon monoxide in ambulances because

it can harm ill patients and ambulance personal.

Requiring an ambulance drivers license for employment is helpful for what three reasons?

1. reduces training cost.

2. it is free pre-employment screening

3. it allows both EMT's on ambulance to take turns driving

Ensuring that there are no unlawful drugs or equipment on the ambulance is whose responsibility?

the owners

Who has the responsibility for integrating all emergency medical services systems in california including training, certification, and scope of practice standards for EMT's?

The EMS Authority

the minimum certification requirement for the attendant in an ambulance is a valid _ certificate

EMT-1

regulations apply to which emergency ambulance services of

a. private

b. public

c. volunteer

d. subscription

e. industrial

all of them

May CHP give exemptions on training and education standards established by the EMS Authority?

No

Training for all pre-hospital staff must include being trained in preventing diseases and for first responders in __ incidents.

infectious, hazardous materials

Who must ambulance services follow for policies and procedures/scope of practice questions on the job?

medical control

Safety Equipment includes seat belts for

every seat

children and infants not secured to a gurney should be secured by

child/infant restraint devised.

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

No.

Does safety equipment includes heating and air conditioning?

Yes

Ambulances should carry extrication equipment depending on

if it is readily available from other rescue units or not.

Ambulance cots should be collapsible and capable of being elevated from the head or feet as well as

adjustable from four positions