EMS Vehicle Operator Safety

Ground ambulance crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths for EMS professionals. In fact, NHTSA reported that from 2012 to 2018, nearly all ground ambulance crashes (92.6%) involved ambulance operator/driver error. Every year, thousands of emergency medical services (EMS) vehicle collisions cause significant property damage, injury, and death, underscoring the need for dedicated EMS vehicle operator training. To meet this need, the Jones & Bartlett Learning Public Safety Group partnered with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) to develop a comprehensive course for EMS practitioners who operate ambulances and other emergency response vehicles. Now EMS Vehicle Operator Safety (EVOS), Second Edition, addresses the vehicle operations and transport safety knowledge gaps that lead to injury and death. Built on current research and featuring discussions of actual crashes and common driving scenarios-and the lessons that can be learned from them-it challenges emergency vehicle operators to learn how to arrive at a scene safely. The course manual profiles real-life incidents and provides practical safety strategies, emphasizing the critical safety principles that are needed to transform a culture of dangerous driving habits into a culture of safety. Incorporating the Latest Research The second edition incorporates valuable new research to make the text and NAEMT course the most current, comprehensive resource available to teach safe driving techniques for emergency vehicle operators today. Instructors will want to incorporate this new, evidence-based content into their training: - The lights and siren paradigm shift - How the increase in distracted drivers impacts emergency vehicle safety - Why Traffic Incident Management is essential now - Reconsidering the "golden hour" - How qualified field training officers make a difference in training effectiveness - The role of work-related fatigue in EMS and how to prevent it Promoting a Culture of Safety EMS Vehicle Operator Safety (EVOS), Second Edition, trains EMS providers to recognize the specific behaviors that must be changed to promote a culture of safe driving. Participants are taught to identify and remove hazards that lead to vehicle collisions, from sleep deprivation to technological distractions to alcohol and substance use. Participants learn practical strategies to reduce the risk of a collision, from defensive driving to vehicle positioning to use of lights and siren. The course also underscores the significance of local laws and regulations that govern EMS vehicle operation, and how standard operating procedures (SOPs) are central to shaping safe driver behavior. Additional course topics are also key: - Developing a safety-first attitude to ensure emergency vehicle operator safety, as well as partner, patient, and passenger safety - Distinguishing the types of laws that affect EMS vehicle operation, including considerations for responding to emergency and nonemergency calls - Taking appropriate precautions when performing specific vehicle maneuvers and when driving under various road and weather conditions - Performing daily vehicle inspections to manage mechanical issues - Practicing mental, emotional, and physical preparedness - Proactively avoiding vehicle crashes and how to respond if one occurs - Developing spatial awareness and practicing skill maneuvers in a driving skills course - Evaluating new and future developments in EMS technology - Utilizing simulation training to integrate knowledge learned during lectures with the technical abilities and judgment acquired through skills practice - Developing effective agency SOPs for key aspects of EMS vehicle operation Don't miss your opportunity to dramatically increase emergency vehicle safety with evidence-based training from the leaders in trusted EMS instruction today. Dynamic Technology Solutions World-class content joins instructionally sound design in a user-friendly online interface to give instructors and participants a truly interactive and engaging learning experience with an eBook.