Drivers-ed?

[JonathanGennick]

What sort of training do you all get for driving the ambulance? Do any of you drive? I work as a volunteer, and it's pretty much a given that I'll end up driving sooner or later, depending on how we schedule ourselves for shifts.

Next month I'm scheduled for an emergency vehicle operations course. It's four hours of classroom training. Following that will be some drives with the Fire Chief and probably the Undersheriff. (The Undersheriff has already taken me out twice, actually, to get a jump on things) When they're satisfied w/my driving, they'll sign off on me as a driver.

So how does it work elsewhere?

[SgtScott31]

40 hrs of defensive driving in the police academy (for LEO's).

When I volunteered for a rescue squad, I went through a 16 hr EVOC course. In TN it is now required that paid and volly personnel must have minimum 2 hrs every year of refresher training.

[croaker260]

I think we get 8 hours Evoc classroom and course driving, plus additional EVOC evaluation and trainign during FTO. In addition, we redo Evoc 4 hours every year (lecture and course).

[Brian1023]

Where I work, you're supposed to wait six months before they consider letting you drive. Due to so many new hires, after two months they handed me the keys and said "congratulations, you just passed drivers ed."

[doughesson]

My old department required you take a couple hours during the in house probie training covering driving POVs and rules and regs related to same.For driving the rigs,you had to have had a year on the department for seasoning,go through the in house EVOC sessions with officers and the regular drivers doing the training.Then you got to drive with "Mikey".If Mikey thought you were not ready to drive one of the rigs Code Zero,you didn't drive at all until you showed a change.I don't know if this is why but we have only had one department vehicle in a wreck and that was because the other driver didn't give way to the Chief's buggy with its lights and siren going.
And still some people think that all volunteer departments are"Drive all out to the station,first guy there gets to drive..."

[firespec35]

well most people I know have had to take an EVOC/ CEVO course. I kinda got grandfathered most places I worked. I learned how to drive on ambulances while hanging around with my dad at my p/t gig. My first F/t job I drove wheelchair vans for 6 mos and when I got my EMT license I got driving status there. I moved to a little company next who said OK you drove at CEMS you can drive here, My fire job I have to do a course every year but I think I'm gonna try it blindfolded this year as I've now done it 9 times :) (I'M KIDDING!!!!)