May 21, 2019
Today we will be giving a special recognition to all of the Emergency Vehicle Operators at Peekskill VAC. Currently, we have 39 Drivers and these dedicated volunteers go through immense training to achieve this title. This is an extremely important aspect of our agency as it is each drivers responsibility to navigate to a 911 emergency safely, for not only us but the public as well, and then transport each patient safely to a local hospital.
First if a member is interested in becoming a driver they must go through an orientation. They sit down with the Driver Training Officer and review and sign all required documents. From there, they review the rather lengthy packet with all expectations, policies and procedures associated with driving, along with NYS Vehicle traffic laws.
Each of these drivers starts out in a parking lot, much like we did when you first received your driving permit. Once a trainee learns to handle these big vehicles, safely and comfortably, they graduate to the streets of Peekskill where they will spend hours upon hours of training. They learn to parallel park, three point turn, backing down tight streets, and back into our headquarters bays and hospital bays. They will also drive in all sorts of conditions that range from dry, wet, and snowy roads as well as day time and night time driving.
Once they achieve demonstrating these skills they once again graduate, to using the lights and sirens. This is an important aspect of training for our drivers. In reality one would think it is safer for us to respond to calls lights and sirens. However, truth be told, it is extremely dangerous. Not everyone hears these sirens blaring, sometimes traffic does not or can not move over, forcing us into oncoming traffic and believe it or not sometimes traffic does not stop for us. We posted an interesting video about a year or so ago in which an ambulance of ours was responding up Bear Mountain Bridge Road showing the professional driving of one of our drivers. Our trainees learn to safely operate our vehicles lights and sirens through rigorous training and responding to many emergencies using them.
**One of the most dangerous aspects of driving lights and sirens activated is intersections! We MUST come to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs and verify all traffic has stopped and the intersection is clear to proceed through before we can go through. We can not just drive through them despite the lights and sirens. We ask that if any emergency vehicle is approaching an intersection to please stop fully for us. Do not try and turn because you have a green light or think since we stopped we are allowing you to proceed through. It is for everyone's safety!**
Once they achieve demonstrating these skills they then request a road test. This is not your round the block road test either. The test runs for three hours and drivers are tested on everything mentioned above. Additionally, they are tested on key locations throughout the city, as well as speed bumps! You read that correctly! They are also tested with radio etiquette and must know where the equipment on each ambulance is located. They must be able to complete all tasks safely and error free to become a cleared driver. On top of all of this they also have to know directions to get to area hospitals both the most direct route and alternate route. Time is key when it comes to an emergency and all drivers need to know how to get there without any issues!
If they are successful one will then become a cleared driver for our agency. Some of our members are not just drivers either. A good portion also go through the rigorous EMT Training we discussed yesterday and becomes both an EMT and Driver.
Thank you to all of our dedicated drivers at Peekskill VAC for keeping not only our crews safe, but our patients and public safe! You rock! If you want to be a part of the action and become a driver, fill out an application on our website pcvac.org
Some fast facts;
*Drivers at PCVAC need precision when it comes to backing our ambulances into the bays at our headquarters. When backing in there is only roughly 6 inches on each side of the mirror to fit the ambulance into the bays without incident.
*Our ambulances are roughly 22+ feet long and over 9 feet in height!
*We currently operate seven vehicles in our fleet. Ambulances 75B1, 75B2, and 75B3. Our Rehab Unit 7506. Additionally two fly cars 7505, 7507 and our new UTV 75U1(more to come on this unit).
Today we will be giving a special recognition to all of the Emergency Vehicle Operators at Peekskill VAC. Currently, we have 39 Drivers and these dedicated volunteers go through immense training to achieve this title. This is an extremely important aspect of our agency as it is each drivers responsibility to navigate to a 911 emergency safely, for not only us but the public as well, and then transport each patient safely to a local hospital.
First if a member is interested in becoming a driver they must go through an orientation. They sit down with the Driver Training Officer and review and sign all required documents. From there, they review the rather lengthy packet with all expectations, policies and procedures associated with driving, along with NYS Vehicle traffic laws.
Each of these drivers starts out in a parking lot, much like we did when you first received your driving permit. Once a trainee learns to handle these big vehicles, safely and comfortably, they graduate to the streets of Peekskill where they will spend hours upon hours of training. They learn to parallel park, three point turn, backing down tight streets, and back into our headquarters bays and hospital bays. They will also drive in all sorts of conditions that range from dry, wet, and snowy roads as well as day time and night time driving.
Once they achieve demonstrating these skills they once again graduate, to using the lights and sirens. This is an important aspect of training for our drivers. In reality one would think it is safer for us to respond to calls lights and sirens. However, truth be told, it is extremely dangerous. Not everyone hears these sirens blaring, sometimes traffic does not or can not move over, forcing us into oncoming traffic and believe it or not sometimes traffic does not stop for us. We posted an interesting video about a year or so ago in which an ambulance of ours was responding up Bear Mountain Bridge Road showing the professional driving of one of our drivers. Our trainees learn to safely operate our vehicles lights and sirens through rigorous training and responding to many emergencies using them.
**One of the most dangerous aspects of driving lights and sirens activated is intersections! We MUST come to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs and verify all traffic has stopped and the intersection is clear to proceed through before we can go through. We can not just drive through them despite the lights and sirens. We ask that if any emergency vehicle is approaching an intersection to please stop fully for us. Do not try and turn because you have a green light or think since we stopped we are allowing you to proceed through. It is for everyone's safety!**
Once they achieve demonstrating these skills they then request a road test. This is not your round the block road test either. The test runs for three hours and drivers are tested on everything mentioned above. Additionally, they are tested on key locations throughout the city, as well as speed bumps! You read that correctly! They are also tested with radio etiquette and must know where the equipment on each ambulance is located. They must be able to complete all tasks safely and error free to become a cleared driver. On top of all of this they also have to know directions to get to area hospitals both the most direct route and alternate route. Time is key when it comes to an emergency and all drivers need to know how to get there without any issues!
If they are successful one will then become a cleared driver for our agency. Some of our members are not just drivers either. A good portion also go through the rigorous EMT Training we discussed yesterday and becomes both an EMT and Driver.
Thank you to all of our dedicated drivers at Peekskill VAC for keeping not only our crews safe, but our patients and public safe! You rock! If you want to be a part of the action and become a driver, fill out an application on our website pcvac.org
Some fast facts;
*Drivers at PCVAC need precision when it comes to backing our ambulances into the bays at our headquarters. When backing in there is only roughly 6 inches on each side of the mirror to fit the ambulance into the bays without incident.
*Our ambulances are roughly 22+ feet long and over 9 feet in height!
*We currently operate seven vehicles in our fleet. Ambulances 75B1, 75B2, and 75B3. Our Rehab Unit 7506. Additionally two fly cars 7505, 7507 and our new UTV 75U1(more to come on this unit).
