Ambulances are big, heavy vehicles, which paramedics must drive quickly and safely to emergency calls. It cannot be easy. To strengthen the driving skills of paramedics, a new initiative called the Paramedic Driving Enhancement Program (PDEP) in being introduced in Simcoe County, 100 km north of Toronto. The advanced training program is designed to elevate driver proficiency and, ultimately, enhance road safety across the region.
- PDEP delivers targeted instruction tailored to the unique driving conditions faced by paramedics.
- – five hours of classroom education
- – two hours of in-vehicle training
- – a graduated driving matrix to assess new recruits
Ambulance driver training will take place at closed training zones at Base Borden, a Canadian Army base, for realistic, hands-on driving experiences in a controlled environment. All paramedic drivers will be required to undergo the advanced driver training before transporting patients independently.
This program isn’t just about training drivers; it’s about expanding the culture of safety to ensure paramedics have the training needed to help the community. The only question is what training did they give ambulance drivers before this?
I’ve often wondered about this lol, where do they learn to drive?!
I always thought it would be a cool job to drive an ambulance through busy downtown Toronto. But then the reality of having to deal with a stabbing or gunshot victim made me change my career choice.
.
But I did get to take an ‘advanced driver training’ course where Canadian Armed Forces train their soldiers to drive personnel carriers and other critical vehicles.
.
I bet ambulance school looks like this:
.
https://demaras.com/2024/06/13/the-rally-against-hunger-thrill-rides/
Omg that looks so fun!
And with an instructor named ‘Crazy Leo’ you know it was fun!
Lol 😂
I don’t drive an ambulance, but I’d love to take that class if I could.
And who’s the masked driver? A new superhero? Is he called Ambulance Chaser?
I may have to call a friend who works at the hospital to see if they’ll let in civilians to the ambulance driving school. I’d pay top dollar for that experience!
.
And the masked guy is Dom DeLuise from the 1981 action-comedy “The Cannonball Run” where Dom and Burt Reynolds raced an ambulance. In stressful situations, Dom DeLuise would take on his alter-ego “Captain Chaos”.
Programs like this are truly needed!
Imagine what a tough job it would be WITHOUT real training programs like this. I don’t know how those ladies and gentlemen can do it!