LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – To keep up with rising demand for its services, Community Ambulance has nearly doubled its staff over the last year.
They are training new paramedics and EMTs to respond to calls across the Las Vegas Valley.
A crucial part of that training is learning how to drive an ambulance.
FOX5 joined the latest class of seven new EMTs and paramedics as they drove through an ambulance obstacle course set up in the parking lot at Sam Boyd Stadium.
The different courses tested their abilities to back up, park the ambulance in tight spots, and swerve at high speeds to avoid objects and cars on the road.
“It’s such a different turning dynamic, acceleration and stuff like that,” said new EMT Ben Christianson.
Driving through the valley can be a bumpy ride, especially in an ambulance and when the medical providers in the back are performing life-saving measures on the way to the hospital.
“You really need to just think about the safety, make sure everyone’s locked in, seat belted. Communication’s huge. If you’re going to break hard or turn left hard or whatever, you’ve just got to let them know, so they can prepare for it if they’re taking care of somebody,” said Christianson.
That’s why EMTs and paramedics are specially trained to maneuver the ambulance through traffic and obstacles on the road.
“We’re running them through everything from being comfortable in backing an ambulance, understanding their spatial awareness, to making use of their mirrors, to basically simulating what it would be like if a vehicle were to make a sudden stop in front of us,” said Glen Simpson, Senior Director of Community Ambulance.
One of the obstacle courses teaches collision avoidance. It’s done three times at three different speeds.
It tests the drivers’ capability to make a last-minute decision and swerve to avoid other cars on the road.
“The instructor tells us turn left or right, so we’ve got to do a quick turn… Not knowing when they’re going to tell you to turn because your instinct tells you that you’re going to hit a wall, but then they tell you, and you’re fine,” said Christianson. “You’ve just got to trust the instructors.”
Simpson said after they complete this driving course and a written test, the new EMTs and paramedics will start their field internship. Then, after about seven to 14 shifts, they’ll be out responding to your calls throughout Southern Nevada.
Community Ambulance holds orientations almost every other week for new paramedics and EMTs. If you’re interested in joining the life-saving team, click here for more information.
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