Do paramedics drive often?

Blood

Blood

Forum Crew Member
Messages
36
Reaction score
2
Points
6
Question is in the title. If it comes down to it then I have no problem driving and I'm fine doing it occasionally. The reason I hate driving is because I was in a bad car accident a few years ago. The accident wasn't but fault but I just don't really trust my driving after that. I'm too paranoid and nervous.
 
I doubt any partner you have will like you much if they always have to drive.
 
Blood said:
Question is in the title. If it comes down to it then I have no problem driving and I'm fine doing it occasionally. The reason I hate driving is because I was in a bad car accident a few years ago. The accident wasn't but fault but I just don't really trust my driving after that. I'm too paranoid and nervous.
Click to expand...

Are you in school to be an EMT or Paramedic?
 
Blood said:
I start school this fall.

Edit: Going to paramedic school.
Click to expand...

As the newbie you may drive more than you like but after a while it levels out. I know some medics who will let the basic ride with BLS patients to give them some experience. My partner (Paramedic) drives about 50% of the time. I will be out of school in a few months (Paramedic) and we have been told we can stay partners so nothing will change.
 
Up here Advanced Care Paramedic (ALS) or Primary Care Paramedic (BLS) we alternate driving call for call. If the call ends up needing the ACP to attend en route then things get mixed up, but otherwise it's a straight 50/50 split.
 
crazycajun said:
As the newbie you may drive more than you like but after a while it levels out. I know some medics who will let the basic ride with BLS patients to give them some experience. My partner (Paramedic) drives about 50% of the time. I will be out of school in a few months (Paramedic) and we have been told we can stay partners so nothing will change.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response :D I guess I'm gonna be driving a little more to get over my fear lol. I'm just always paranoid especially when I have to stop(eyes are glued to the rear view mirror lol).

The reason I hate driving is because I was stopped in the middle of the highway waiting on oncoming traffic so I could turn left into my apartment complex. A truck behind me reached down for a soda and didn't see us. By the time he looked up it was too late. He hit us going 70mph and my dumbass wasn't wearing a seatbelt lol. I ate the :censored::censored::censored::censored: out of the dashboard.
 
Blood said:
Thanks for the quick response :D I guess I'm gonna be driving a little more to get over my fear lol. I'm just always paranoid especially when I have to stop(eyes are glued to the rear view mirror lol).

The reason I hate driving is because I was stopped in the middle of the highway waiting on oncoming traffic so I could turn left into my apartment complex. A truck behind me reached down for a soda and didn't see us. By the time he looked up it was too late. He hit us going 70mph and my dumbass wasn't wearing a seatbelt lol. I ate the :censored::censored::censored::censored: out of the dashboard.
Click to expand...

Accidents happen. I would recommend you contact your local State Police and see if they have a defensive driving program. It helps get rid of fears an anxiety. I take it every year and love it. Especially when we get to go on the wet track.:D
 
My partner and I alternate the driving duties every shift. He is currently in medic class, so right now I have to tech all the ALS runs, so he does all the BLS ones. Obviously, when it is his day to drive, if he is in the back of the ambulance, I am driving us to the hospital and vice versa. Once he has his medic, then we will most likely just alternate runs. The only exceptions will be babies and mental/emotional runs. He doesn't like baby runs and I don't like mental/emotional ones, so we already have an agreement that I take all the babies and he takes all the "crazies".
 
We work paramedic / paramedic or paramedic/student paramedic

We take turns doing pt care and driving.
 
Our trucks are B/P or I/P, but the Paramedic has to do every 911 call, therefor the EMT generally drives the vast majority of the time. Most appear fine with that, since that means they also don't have to do the paperwork.


When I was first with my EMT partner, I jumped in the drivers seat and he was confused stating "I hardly ever sit in the passenger seat".
 
They wont let me "drive" the helicopter... some jive abt needing a pilot's license and thousands of hours experience, or something like that.
 
medicRob said:
They wont let me "drive" the helicopter... some jive abt needing a pilot's license and thousands of hours experience, or something like that.
Click to expand...

You know who also spoke jive?

BBillingsley+4.jpg
 
Its more often that not split 50/50 here, we have very strict limits on driving hours set by law.

Brown thinks both Officers should drive.
 
Blood said:
Question is in the title. If it comes down to it then I have no problem driving and I'm fine doing it occasionally. The reason I hate driving is because I was in a bad car accident a few years ago. The accident wasn't but fault but I just don't really trust my driving after that. I'm too paranoid and nervous.
Click to expand...
well, considering something like 75% of calls are BLS in nature, if you are working on a Medic/EMT truck, the medic will drive more often
 
Tell your boss and listen to our cajun

Just don't fall for being assigned the tailboard...;)
Oh, and never ever drive or ride without a belt again. duh-OH
28.jpg

 
Last edited by a moderator:
One of te services I worked for we ran 2 Medics on the truck, so we took turns. But, also being a male/female truck there were times that one of us were needed more than there other.
Now I am the only Medic on board, so if any meds. need to pushed, quess what...I'm the one doing pt. care AND writing the report. If there is a chance the call is BLS, then I have them take pt. care. AND they can write the report. I love when they have to write the report. And I get to clean and restock the rig.
Sorry to hear about your accident, you will one day feel a whole lot better about driving. Takes time, let wounds heal, and that includes emotional wounds. Good Luck with you beginning a new chapter in your life. Just remember to keep your head up and smile alot. Not only will you look confident, all others will wonder what you have been up to...Peace out!!
 
Medic/medic Is required in one of the counties my company responds to, so that's the general setup. We rotate driving, and being in back (unless one medic is also a critical care medic, then, obviously, they have to take the critical care calls)

We get those pretty often. My company has the gift of life contract for the state, so we will bring the body on life support from wherever it may be, to a dedicated hospital for organ harvest. And of course the vent, and other critical care calls.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Here we take turns till and from the station, BUT, as i´m the only Medic on the bus, I have all the patients care and journal work after. Looove it !

Not so often we are two medics, and then we take turn driving! Loooove that to ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top