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California Ambulance Driver's License

Terms in this set (39)

The following are essential for safe ambulance operation:
- Compliance with applicable requirements
- Exercise of sound judgment
- Defensive driving techniques
Emergency ambulance service regulations are adopted by California Highway Patrol (CHP) apply to:
All publicly and privately owned ambulances used for emergency service.
CHP regulations do not apply to:
- Ambulances not used to respond to emergency calls (IFT)
- Ambulances that are federally owned and operated (federal directives)
In order for privately/publicly owned emergency ambulances to be equipped and operated as emergency vehicles:
They must be licensed to do so by the CHP.
"Code 3" is justified only when:
- When initially responding to an emergency call
- When speed in obtaining emergency medical care appears essential to save a life, prevent undue suffering, or to reduce or prevent disability
Ambulances are inspected:
- By CHP annually & randomly
Decisive factors permitting alternate destinations include:
- Consideration of the needs/desires of the patient
- Professional medical direction
- Protocols established by the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency
Temporary certificate becomes void after:
- 180 days
Regular certificate is good for
- Five years
Ambulance driver certificate only valid when:
- Accompanied by a valid driver's license and medical examination certificate (2 yrs)
- After 1 year, accompanied by EMT cert
Renewal apps will be accepted
- During the six months prior to expiration of previous certificate
Responsibility for the operation of the service in compliance with regulations rests with:
- The ambulance service owner, operator, manager, or supervisor
The ambulance driver must demonstrate his/her driving competence to:
- The ambulance service owner (his/her employer)
Responsibility to ensure that the driver is trained and competent in the use of safety and emergency care equipment rests with:
- The ambulance service owner (his/her employer)
The beginning driver must possess at minimum:
- Advanced first aid cert
- Valid CPR cert
- EMT cert w/in one year
An ambulance driver's primary responsibility is:
- The safe transport of the patient
Code 3 transport can be unnecessary and harmful because it can:
- Frighten the patient
- Put a stabilized patient into shock
- Disrupt ongoing medical treatment
- Aggravate certain conditions
Conditions that require especially smooth, normal speed transport include:
- Spinal injuries
- Serious fractures
- Heart attacks
Code 3 operation is advised for the following which constitute only 5-7% of total trips:
-Uncontrolled hemorrhage
- Uncontrolled cardiovascular or respiratory impairment (e.g. CHF, heart wounds, pulmonary edema)
- Complicated impending childbirth (requiring operation)
The steady burning red warning lamp must be visible from:
- 1000 ft
Hazards that must be anticipated by an ambulance driver during "Code 3" operation include:
- "Blind" intersections and driveways
- Motorists with impaired hearing
- Inattentive drivers
Ambulance drivers should:
- Presume that other drivers do not hear the siren at a safe distance under most conditions
- Be aware that other drivers often have difficulty in locating the source of siren sounds
- Restrict the use of sirens to situations where they are most effective; e.g. warning peds and drivers traveling at reduced speeds w/low bg noise
- Avoid passing on the right
Front steady burning red warning light shall be displayed when:
- Traveling code 3
- An extreme hazard exists
Flashing red warning lights may be displayed:
- Only during extremely hazardous conditions, e.g. situation that requires traffic to stop/roadway to be blocked
Flashing amber warning lights may be displayed:
- Only when unusual traffic hazard exists
Warning lamp effectiveness may be reduced by:
- Low sun or glare
- Confusion with traffic signals/neon lights
- Position of lights on the ambulance
Use of headlamps during daylight hours:
- Is effective in reducing accidents by making the vehicle more visible to other drivers
5 elements of defensive driving:
- Knowledge: Rules of the road; own limitations
- Alertness
- Vision
- Judgment
- Skill
Loss of control of the vehicle can result from:
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Accelerating too hard
- Braking inappropriately
- Changing direction too abruptly
- Taking a curve at too high a speed
Following distances should be used as a general rule:
- increased 50% if ambulance is large/heavy
- 2x if road surface is loose or slippery, vision is obscured, or driver not fully alert
- 3x if road surface is packed snow/ice
Responsibility for determining the mechanical safety of the ambulance rests primarily with the:
- Driver
Responsibility for equipping and maintaining the vehicle rests primarily with:
- The owner
If your ambulance drivers cert has been revoked, you may reapply after a period not less than:
- 1 year
You shall not drive an ambulance when your ability to operate the vehicle safely is affected by:
- Fatigue or illness
- Temporary disability
- Permanent disability
The ambulance driver is required to inspect the ambulance:
- Prior to operation
While driving under "Code 3" exemptions, you may disobey a red stop signal only if:
- The ambulance is slowed to 15 mph
When ambulances are readily available from two or more services, your ambulance company amy respond to a motor vehicle accident:
- Only upon instruction from a law-enforcement or public agency dispatcher
Tire tread depth may not be less than:
- 1/32nd of an inch
Authority for the management of the scene of a traffic accident involving injuries is vested in the:
- Public safety agency having investigative authority
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