Emergency Vehicle Operations

Module II

Departmental Policy And Prescribed Procedures

Goal:

• Understand departmental policies and procedures

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Procedures that provide a standard set of actions that are the core of every fire fighting incident plan.

5 Reasons for adopting SOPs:

• 1. All personnel understand what is expected or required.

• a. Eligibility qualifications and certification requirements to become an emergency vehicle driver.

• b. Training schedule, expectations, and requirements.

• c. Annual maintenance of emergency vehicle driver certification.

• d. General conduct and obligations of an emergency vehicle driver.

• 2. Compliance with all necessary requirements is identified:

• a. compliance with organizational rules and requirements as they affect emergency vehicle drivers.

• b. Compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and administrative rules that relate to vehicle operations on public highways.

• c. Compliance with applicable NFPA and other recognized standards. (including but not limited to, 1002 Fire department vehicle driver/operator professional qualifications, and 1500 Firefighter occupational and safety standard)

• 3. Pre-planned and agreed upon actions.3. Pre-planned and agreed upon actions.

• a. Personnel assignments, including a. Personnel assignments, including emergency vehicle drivers that may be driving emergency vehicle drivers that may be driving on any specific emergency incident.on any specific emergency incident.

– b. Procedures for responding and arriving to a b. Procedures for responding and arriving to a scene.scene.

– When events occur the first in officer will not have to When events occur the first in officer will not have to worry about the drivers ability to get to the scene and worry about the drivers ability to get to the scene and to know what his duties are upon arrival.to know what his duties are upon arrival.

• 4. Resource document upon which to base training

• a. Prospective drivers can identify the training requirements necessary to qualify as a driver on various types of vehicles.

• b. Drivers can be informed and trained to identify which vehicles respond to the various types of incidences.

• c. Existing drivers can identify the requirements for retaining certifications and expanding certifications to additional vehicles within the organization.

• 5. Required anticipated actions.

• a. Critical maintenance and inspections of vehicles and equipment can be identified and scheduled.

• b. Pre-trip, response, and post-trip responsibilities can be identified and detailed.

• c. Inappropriate driving actions that might lead to accidents can be eliminated, or at least minimized.

Authority And Responsibilities

Goal:

• Explain the authority and responsibility of the emergency vehicle operator.

Authority

• The emergency vehicle driver is responsible for the crew members in the apparatus and there safety in route to and from a incident.

• The driver is also responsible to obey all traffic laws and drive with due regard for other drivers.

• This means just because you are driving with lights and sirens going, you do not always have the right of way.

• Other drivers may not see or hear you.

Responsibilities

• The driver has many responsibilities to his crew and the public.

• Safe and defensive driving will protect the lives of the crew and the public at large.

Pre - trip inspection

• 1. Approach vehicle and look for leaks.1. Approach vehicle and look for leaks.

• 2. Check all fluid levels in the engine compartment.2. Check all fluid levels in the engine compartment.

• 3. Start engine and listen for strange or unusual noises.3. Start engine and listen for strange or unusual noises.

– Check gauges verifying normal rangesCheck gauges verifying normal ranges

– Check operation of all controlsCheck operation of all controls

– Check and adjust mirrorsCheck and adjust mirrors

– Check other cab controlsCheck other cab controls

– Check braking system and low pressure alarmCheck braking system and low pressure alarm

• 4. Check headlights, signal lights, warning lights, 4. Check headlights, signal lights, warning lights, and audio devices.and audio devices.

• 5. Conduct walk around inspection (proceed in a 5. Conduct walk around inspection (proceed in a clock wise motion around the vehicle)clock wise motion around the vehicle)

– Check tire conditionCheck tire condition

– Insure all doors are closed and that they are operable.Insure all doors are closed and that they are operable.

Other responsibilities include

• Rout Planning Rout Planning

• Minimizing travel time Minimizing travel time

– Minimizing accident exposuresMinimizing accident exposures

– Don’t follow to close Don’t follow to close

• Keep eyes on the road and watch for the unexpected Keep eyes on the road and watch for the unexpected

• Avoiding environmental and construction hazardsAvoiding environmental and construction hazards

• Insuring all passengers are wearing seat belts and are Insuring all passengers are wearing seat belts and are seated before moving the apparatus.seated before moving the apparatus.

Driver selection, training, testing and licensing

Goal:

• Understand the reasons for driver selection, training, testing, and licensing.

Selection – Human aspects Human aspects

• Attitude Attitude

– Immature, Show-off, Laid-back, or ComicImmature, Show-off, Laid-back, or Comic

• Knowledge Knowledge

– Individual’s clear perception of truth, or fact.Individual’s clear perception of truth, or fact.

• Mental Fitness Mental Fitness

– Does the individual understand and respect the responsibility of driving an emergency Does the individual understand and respect the responsibility of driving an emergency vehiclevehicle

• Judgment Judgment

– Does the individual make good decisions . Excitability and Maturity should also be Does the individual make good decisions . Excitability and Maturity should also be considered.considered.

• Physical FitnessPhysical Fitness

– Free of physical impairments which might inhibit the ability to drive.Free of physical impairments which might inhibit the ability to drive.

• AgeAge

– Age needs to be combined with physical fitness Age needs to be combined with physical fitness during evaluationduring evaluation

• HabitsHabits

– If poor habits exist, they must be identified and If poor habits exist, they must be identified and corrected by constant repetition of the proper action corrected by constant repetition of the proper action until they also become habit.until they also become habit.

• Driving CharacteristicsDriving Characteristics

• How each individual coordinates and handles an emergency How each individual coordinates and handles an emergency vehicle.vehicle.

Training

• Most organizations keep track of classes attended, and Most organizations keep track of classes attended, and also have some type of evaluative system.also have some type of evaluative system.

– Training records include:Training records include:

– Classes attendedClasses attended

– Classes successfully completedClasses successfully completed

– CertificationsCertifications

– LicensingLicensing

– (Each individual’s personnel file becomes a legal document)(Each individual’s personnel file becomes a legal document)

Licensing

• In recent years, a number of states have added one or more criteria for obtaining the privilege of driving heavy vehicles classified as commercial. It does not matter that they may also be classified as emergency vehicles.

• In some cases, specific exemptions may be granted for drivers of emergency vehicles.

• The perspective driver must take a driving course and pass a driving and written test given by the D.P.S (department of public safety)

Testing

• If skills are not applied regularly competency decreases. That is why there is the need to recertify personnel

• If a driver is regularly driving an emergency vehicle under both emergency and non - emergency conditions, recertification may be nothing more than a “check ride”

• If a driver has not driven a specific emergency vehicle over 6 months and once in 18 months, recertification may involve a complete retesting on that vehicle.

State and local laws governing emergency vehicle response

Goal:

• Receive instruction on law enforcement emergency vehicle response. And understand the liability of driving an emergency vehicle.

Special privileges of the emergency driver

• Permission to proceed through a red traffic signal or a Permission to proceed through a red traffic signal or a stop sign.stop sign.

• Ability to exceed the posted speed limit.Ability to exceed the posted speed limit.

– Right to travel against the normal flow of traffic.Right to travel against the normal flow of traffic.

– While these are privileges remember if you act with disregard While these are privileges remember if you act with disregard for other drivers you are liable for any damages are death of the for other drivers you are liable for any damages are death of the other party.other party.

– You are still bound by the traffic laws of that particular state or You are still bound by the traffic laws of that particular state or province.province.

Legal Principles

• You as a driver are subject to all traffic laws unless a You as a driver are subject to all traffic laws unless a specific exemption is provided specific exemption is provided

• Exemptions apply only when responding to a true Exemptions apply only when responding to a true emergencyemergency

– True emergencyTrue emergency - Situation in which there is a high probability - Situation in which there is a high probability of death or serious injury to an individual or significant property of death or serious injury to an individual or significant property loss.loss.

• You can be found criminally or civilly liable if involved in You can be found criminally or civilly liable if involved in an accident, even when operating under exemptions.an accident, even when operating under exemptions.

– Courts will usually judge the actions of the emergency Courts will usually judge the actions of the emergency driver on two primary considerations:driver on two primary considerations:

– Was the emergency vehicle responding to a true Was the emergency vehicle responding to a true emergency?emergency?

• Did the driver exercise due regard for the safety of others?Did the driver exercise due regard for the safety of others?

– Due regardDue regard - a reasonably careful person performing similar - a reasonably careful person performing similar duties and under similar circumstances would act in the same duties and under similar circumstances would act in the same manner.manner.

• To understand all the laws and exemptions given to drivers of an emergency vehicles, you must read up on all pertinent laws pertaining to the state of Texas.