what license is needed to drive a firetruck
Fire and European monetary system agencies owe their crews, and the citizens they serve and protect, competent fire apparatus and ambulance driver/operators
By Don Cox, FireRescue1 Contributor
How does the transportation industry assess the competency of drivers that get behind the bike of a 40 ft., 50,000+ pound truck, driving at 65 mph? Since 1986, driver/operators of large trucks take been required to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) which includes various performance steps to learn and maintain the license. Considering these trucks parallel many emergency service vehicles, citizens may assume that ESO drivers would take similar grooming – particularly when i considers that emergency situations often permit exemptions to various traffic regulations.
Is every licensed driver competent to drive a fire truck, ambulance or other ESO vehicle? While each state has specific ESO driver qualification standards and regulations, most states and many ESOs have exempted firefighters from the CDL requirement. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 69 United States firefighters died on duty in 2016 and 17 firefighters died either traveling to or from an incident [ane]. ESO leaders owe their squad members, and the citizens they serve and protect, competent drivers.
To look for all-time practices and standards for driver training, ESOs tin can look to the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), the NFPA or their insurance carrier. It's important for ESOs to understand the various recommendations for grooming content equally well as preparation frequency. For case, NFPA 1451, Department five.2.1 identifies that "commuter training shall take place not less than twice each year." How many ESOs are providing commuter training that often? Not enough.
Creating a comprehensive driver training programme
Co-ordinate to the VFIS Emergency Vehicle Driver Training program, the following components are critical to a comprehensive driver training program [two]:
1. Identify the problem. Between 1992 and 2011, in that location was an annual estimated mean of 4,500 motor vehicle traffic crashes involving an ambulance. Of these crashes: 65 percent resulted in holding damage only; 34 percent resulted in an injury/injuries; < 1 percent resulted in fatality/fatalities – which is withal approximately 45 fatalities per year [three].
2. Select the driver. Aspects that should be covered in commuter qualification include: human aspects, acquired abilities, driving records (including frequent license checks with the department of motor vehicles) and driver requalification.
three. SOP/SOGs: Standard operating procedures should outline relevant driving safety discipline areas and proper procedural behavior.
iv. Legal aspects of emergency vehicle driving: Drivers should receive an overview of today'south legal climate, distracted driving, emergency vehicle driving laws and privileges, along with legal principles and terms.
v. The vehicle and vehicle dynamics: Today's fire trucks, apparatus, ambulances and technology are rapidly irresolute, including onboard monitoring systems and new condom devices. It's of import to keep drivers informed of each vehicle's dynamics and capabilities.
half-dozen. Emergency vehicle operations. Provide an expectation of drivers when they are preparing to drive including sleep deprivation and safe driving, defensive driving goals and placement of vehicles at emergency scenes.
7. Vehicle inspection and maintenance. Detail the importance of proper vehicle pre/postal service trip inspections, out-of-service criteria and accurate record keeping.
8. Evaluation. An effective driver training programme should include a competency class completion, as well as a street and highway driving evaluation, including emergency and non-emergency modes.
Developing a driver/operator SOP
According to the National Highway Transportation Prophylactic Assistants, in 2015, 3,477 fatalities and 391,000 injuries occurred due to distracted driving [4]. Information technology's important to specifically address distracted driving and incorporate prevention efforts into ESO preparation because, by blueprint, the cab of ESO vehicles have many built-in distractions. These include emergency radios, mobile information terminals, voice communications, sirens and fifty-fifty camera monitors. Information technology's important to as well note country regulations on distracted driving, some of which are specific to ESO workers.
A sterile cab environment, which is a concept borrowed from the aviation industry, is making its style into VFIS driver preparation methods [5]. The human brain is susceptible to distraction whatever time the sensory system is stimulated. In fact, when distracted, the IQ of a Harvard MBA drops to the level of an eight-year-old [half dozen]. Therefore, it's of import to control environments to eliminate, or at least limit, the frequency and number of distractions when one is performing a critical task, such equally operating an emergency vehicle.
Some behaviors to consider for an SOP/SOG on driving safety include:
- Cellphone use
- The driver should focus on driving and not utilize cab devices such as radios, siren activation or mobile data terminals
- Limit exact conversations in the cab to disquisitional need to know items (pointing out anticipated roadway/traffic issues)
- The person occupying the right seat is frequently the supervisor or atomic number 82 paramedic and should use proper supervisory observations on driving skills and behavior to immediately correct unsafe weather condition or assist in identifying hazards
- Maintain a clean cab that secures all equipment and personal items as they can become distractions during movement or projectiles if a collision occurs
Emergency vehicles are the tool that ESOs apply the nigh only are trained on the least. Providing adequate commuter training is vital to making the streets safe for patients, employees and the citizens that count on ESOs to protect their communities. Every bit at that place are many programs available to properly train and requalify ESO drivers, be certain to select 1 that follows best practices and standards of the industry.
To learn more, visit glatfeltercommercialambulance.com and vfis.com .
About the writer
Don Cox is an education specialist for Glatfelter Commercial Ambulance & VFIS, divisions of Glatfelter Insurance Group. Don has served as a paramedic for over 35 years in Iowa, Wisconsin and Florida. He holds a Principal's degree in Adult Teaching from Iowa Country University; is an executive burn officer with the National Burn University and holds designations equally chief fire officeholder and chief training officer with the Center for Public Condom Excellence.
References
one. National Burn down Protection Association – Standards 1451, 1002,1500, 1911
2. VFIS, A Division of the Glatfelter Insurance Group, Emergency Vehicle Driver Training Program
iii. NHTSA's Fatality Assay Reporting System (FARS) 1992-2010 Last and 2011 Almanac Written report File (ARF) and National Automotive Sampling Arrangement (NASS) General Estimates System (GES),1992-2011
iv. National Highway Transportation Prophylactic Administration. Risky driving. Bachelor at: www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving
five. VFIS, Gamble Communique – Distracted Driving – "Sterile Cab"
6. Pashler HE (1999). The Psychology of Attending. Cambridge, MA: MIT Printing.
Source: https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/fire-apparatus/articles/behind-the-wheel-of-a-fire-truck-training-needed-S69XNUvCdsW3476C/