Ambulance Driver Test Guidelines - CA

Ambulance Driver Test CA 1. Private Ambulances may only respond to emergency calls if CHP has authorized them to 2. Definition of Ambulance Rescue vehicle Vehicle modified to transport injured people 3. Code 3 Operation describes use of lights and sirens 4. Code 3 is justified for 3 reasons 1 to save a life 2 prevent undue suffering 3 prevent disability 5. Do guilty vertics that have dis- Yes missed by courts still count as convictions? 6. Must all ambulances operating Yes under the same license display the same name? 7. How many hours of service must be provided under each license? 24, unless the ambulance does not respond to calls from public agencies. 8. Fire extinguishers must be inspected and serviced yearly or immediately after use 9. Ambulances will be inspected initially by CHP yearly and randonmly 10. Destination restrictions prevent ambulances from taking unnecessarily long routes. 11. Escorts for patients: The prohibition against unqualified drivers and attendants serving as patient escorts does not exclude Family, other persons concerned with the patients well being minors should be allowed to come whenever possible 1 / 13 12. Good Samaritan Laws do not protect EMT's when acts or omissions are performed in a grossly negligent manner or not in good faith. 13. Can CHP grant exceptions to statutory requirements? No 14. Purpose of DMV ambulance dri- not to prove driving competence, but to ver test is screen those with criminal backgrounds, physical disabilities, or poor driving habits. 15. You do not need an ambulance are a police officer driving license if firefighter or if you are licensed in an a different state and driving in an emergency into CA. 16. 6 Prerequisites to getting an Ambulance license. 1. 18 years old 2. Hold a valid CA driving license 3. File a complete application including criminal convictions and certain traffic offenses 4. Pass a written test 5. Submit fingerprints 6. Complete meddical form DL-51 17. Temporary certificates last _____ days 180 18. Regular certificate lasts no longer than 5 years, and expires the same day as your drivers license 19. Conditional validity means that valid drivers license your ambulance license is only medical examination certificate. valid when you have and after one year an (EMT)-I certificate 20. Renewal Applications will be excepted within 6 months of expiration of your drivers license. 21. 2 / 13 If your ambulance drivers license is revoked, you can 22. Hearing committee is composed of submit a written request for a hearing within ten days. 3 members representing the DMV, CHP, and EMS Authority. 23. An ambulance drivers primary Safe transport of the patient responsibility is 24. Safe means 1. not risking an accident 2. smooth driving a) that does not stress or traumatize the patient b) that permits attendant to give medical care 25. Negative affects of Code 3 transport include 1. frightening patient 2. putting a stable patient into shock 3. Disrupting ongoing medical treatment 26. Medical conditions that require 5-7 Code 3 represent _ percent of trips 27. Medical conditions that require 1. Uncontrolled hemorrhage Code 3 transport include a) internal chest or abdomen bleeding 2. Uncontrolled cardiovascular or respiratory impairment a) congestive heart failure b) wounds to the heart c) progressive pulmonary edema 3. Complicated or impending childbirth a) a case that requires operative intervention 28. Any doubt as to the seriousness of the emergency when considering use of Code 3, must be decided in favor of the patient 3 / 13 29. Driving in a way that risks loss Never of control of the vehicle or relies on drivers or pedestrians to react ideally is justified in what circumstances 30. Ambulance drivers are exempt 1. Responding to an Emergency call from certain traffic laws in what 2. Displaying a steady burn red warning conditions lamp with 1000 feet of visibility in front of the vehicle 3. Reckless driving and driving under the influence are never justified 31. If a driver is involved in an acci- Yes, if he was not acting with due regard dent, but was exempt from cer- for the safety of others. tain traffic laws can he still be criminally and civilly liable? 32. Determining if a driver exercised due regard toward the safety of others is based on what criteria: 1. Sufficient notice of the ambulances approach was given. 2. signalling equipment a) whether it was necessary to use it b) whether it was used c) whether it was audible and/or visible 3. speed of the vehicle should never prevent the driver from maintaining complete control of it. 4. If the driver decelerated before impact with a driver who did not yield 33. A rural driver at 55mph may not 33 feet hear the wail of the siren if his windows are closed and the radio is playing until the ambulance is ___ away 34. A city driver with his windows 123 down may hear the siren when it is ___ away 4 / 13 35. Hazards when driving with Code 3 include 1. blind intersections 2. driveways 3. motorists with impaired hearing 4. inattentive drivers 36. When using a siren Ambulance 1. assume drivers do not hear the siren drivers should at safe distances under most conditions especially at intersections 2. assume drivers have difficulty locating the source of the siren 3. use the siren only when it is most effective 4. never pass on the right 37. When using a warning lamp 1. excessive use reduces public respect of their purpose 2. use primarily to protect life and property 38. Front steady burn red warning when an extreme hazard exists light should be displayed 39. Do revolving, rotating, or flash- No, but they can supplement it ing red lamps satisfy the requirement for a steady burn lamp? 40. Flashing red lights may only be when an extreme hazard exists, (meaning displayed any incident that requires traffic to stop, be blocked, or proceed only as directed. 41. Flashing Amber Lights used only for unusual traffic hazards, until hazard ceases to exist. 42. Warning Lamp effectiveness 1. low sun or glare may be reduced by what 3 fac- 2. confusion with traffic signals and neon tors lights 3. Their position if mounted to high or low on the ambulance. 43. yes, they increase visibility. 5 / 13 Should headlamps be used in the daylight? 44. Definition of defensive driving: doing everything reasonably possible to avoid accidents. 45. a preventable accident is one in which the driver failed to take reasonable precautions to avoid the accident 46. Defensive driving requires continual exercise of sound judgment and good driving habits with an awareness that all other drivers cannot be relied upon to drive safely 47. Is physical fitness a prerequisite for safe driving? Yes. 48. Five elements of defensive dri- 1. knowledge: of the rules of the road, his, ving and his vehicles limitations. 2. Alertness: of potential hazards 3. Vision: as speed increases visual accuracy decreases 4. Judgement: knowing what to do when 5. Skill: in handling an ambulance. 49. Loss of control is often due to 1. driving to fast for the conditions 2. Accelerating too hard 3. Braking too hard 4. Changing direction to hard 5. Taking a curve to fast 50. Minor backing mishaps (crash- 1. keeping an ambulance out of service es) result in 2. costly repairs 3. additional paperworl 4. poor public image 5. expensive insurance 6. job loss 51. Too back up a vehicle station a outside to the left rear of the vehicle crew member 6 / 13 52. Before backing up check for pedestrians and obstacles 53. Before backing up push the horn 54. Back up at what pace slowly 55. While backing up check your mirrors constantly 56. Intersections are the most likely 1. visibility is obstructed cause of accidents because 2.Drivers misjudge clearance 3. Motorists may not see or hear the ambulance 4. Two or more ambulances meet at an intersection 57. At an intersection the driver should check for actual and potential hazards well in advance of the intersection 58. At intersections the driver should look to the left, then then to the right, then, the left again before entering the intersection. 59. Maintain a safe ______ distance following 60. A safe following distance enables a driver to stop or steer around without crashing into a vehicle that stops suddenly 61. Is greater than the distance re- than the total stopping time quired to react (3/4ths of a second), but shorter 62. You should keep a separation of 3 seconds at least ____ between the ambulance and the next vehicle 63. If the ambulance is large or heavy increase following distances by 50% 64. 2X 7 / 13 If the surface is loose or slippery increase following distances by 65. If vision is obscured increase following distances by 2X 66. If the driver is not fully alert in- 2X crease following distances by 67. If the road surface is packed 3X snow or ice increase following distances by 68. At speeds of 40 to 60 mph safely 10 seconds passing a vehicle takes 69. If you decide to pass a car and 1. don't hesitate, conditions are okay 2. stay in the passing lane, 3. scan the road for unmarked intersecting roads and driveways, 4. be prepared to abort. 70. When driving at high speeds don't go to fast around turns pump the breaks prior to immediate slowdown 71. when speed is doubled, braking more than quadruples distance 72. In preparation for hazardous wiper blades, heater, defroster, lights, conditions be sure that _ equip- brakes, tires steering mechanism ment is in good condition 73. In hazardous conditions drive following speed at speeds appropriate for conditions and increase the 74. During darkness keep the wind- clean shield 8 / 13 75. During darkness keep the instrument lights dim 76. During darkness keep your eyes moving 77. During darkness slow your speed considerably on turns 78. slow speeds, _________, and _____ prevents hydroplaning inflated tires and deep treads 79. The responsibility for determin- driver ing the mechanical safety of the ambulance rests primarily with the 80. Responsibility for equipping owner and maintaining the ambulance rests with the 81. Driver should inspect the ambulance when? at the beginning of every shift 82. Driver should ensure that intervals scheduled vehicle maintainence has been performed at established 83. In inspecting the ambulance the have been corrected Driver should make sure previous deficiencies 84. The driver should determine if emergency operation the ambulance is unsafe, not equipped, or maintained for 85. It is illegal for an owner to per- equpped as required mit the operation of an ambulance that is not 9 / 13 86. Make sure to inspect for carbon monoxide in ambulances because it can harm ill patients and ambulance personal. 87. Requiring an ambulance dri1. reduces training cost. vers license for employment is 2. it is free pre-employment screening helpful for what three reasons? 3. it allows both EMT's on ambulance to take turns driving 88. Ensuring that there are no un- the owners lawful drugs or equipment on the ambulance is whose responsibility? 89. Who has the responsibility for The EMS Authority integrating all emergency medical services systems in california including training, certification, and scope of practice standards for EMT's? 90. the minimum certification re- EMT-1 quirement for the attendant in an ambulance is a valid _____ certificate 91. regulations apply to which emergency ambulance services of a. private b. public c. volunteer d. subscription e. industrial all of them 92. May CHP give exemptions on training and education standards established by the EMS Authority? No 10 / 13 93. Training for all pre-hospital infectious, hazardous materials staff must include being trained in preventing _______ diseases and for first responders in _________ incidents. 94. Who must ambulance services medical control follow for policies and procedures/scope of practice questions on the job? 95. Safety Equipment includes seat every seat belts for 96. children and infants not sechild/infant restraint devised. cured to a gurney should be secured by 97. Are drivers and passengers seated in the front of the ambulance required to wear seat belts? No. 98. Does safety equipment includes heating and air conditioning? Yes 99. Ambulances should carry extri- if it is readily available from other rescue cation equipment depending on units or not. 100. Ambulance cots should be col- adjustable from four positions lapsible and capable of being elevated from the head or feet as well as 101. Mattresses should be covered plastic material with impervious 102. 3" and 2" 11 / 13 Padded ankle and wrist restraints should measure __ before tying to maintain a ___ width while in use 103. How many complete sets of 4 clean linen supplies per ambulance cot? 104. reusable medical supplies should be maintained in what condition clean and ready to use, disinfected or sterilized as appropriate. 105. When a patient with a known communicable disease has been transported the patient compartment and all interior surfaces including fixed equipment shoulld be thoughly cleaned with soap, water, and disinfectant. 106. Supplies of blankets, pillows, autoclaved and linens, should be stored in what manner? 107. To protect against HIV, hepati- masks with one way valves, gloves, tis B, the following protective gowns and goggles as well as containers equipment should be carried: for soiled equipment. 108. Rigid Cervicl collars should be adult, child, and infant patients. carried in sizes for 109. 4 sets of _____ splints should short, medium, and long, including a pedibe carried for for use in adults atric femur splint, cardboard splints, inflatand children ages 1-14. able air splints, half ring leg splints of the Hare and Sager traction type all having straps. 110. ____ headbeds should be car- 4 ried 111. 6: 2 for adults, 2 for children, 1 for infants, 1 for newborns. 12 / 13 ____ oropharnygeal airways should be carried in sizes for _____ 13 / 13