EMS Vehicle Operator Safety (EVOS) addresses the vehicle operations and transport safety knowledge gaps that lead to injury and death. Built on current research and featuring discussions of actual crashes and common driving scenarios—and the lessons that can be learned from them—it challenges emergency vehicle operators to consider if they truly know how to arrive at a scene safely. The course manual profiles real-life incidents and provides practical safety pointers, emphasizing the critical safety principles that are needed to transform a culture of dangerous driving habits into a culture of safety.

EVOS trains EMS providers to recognize the specific behaviors that must be changed in order to promote a culture of safe driving. Participants are taught to identify and remove hazards that lead to vehicle collisions, from sleep deprivation to technological distractions to alcohol and substance use.

Participants learn practical strategies to reduce the risk of a collision, from defensive driving to vehicle positioning to use of lights and siren. The course also underscores the significance of local laws and regulations that govern EMS vehicle operation, and how standard operating procedures (SOPs) are central to shaping safe driver behavior. Additional course topics include:

• Developing a safety-first attitude to ensure the emergency vehicle operator’s own safety and the safety of his or her partner, the patient, and any passengers
• Distinguishing the types of laws that affect EMS vehicle operation, including considerations for responding to emergency and non-emergency calls
• Taking appropriate precautions when performing specific vehicle maneuvers and when driving under various road and weather conditions
• Performing daily vehicle inspections to manage mechanical issues
• Practicing mental, emotional, and physical preparedness
• Proactively avoiding vehicle crashes and how to respond if one occurs
• Developing spatial awareness and practicing skill maneuvers in a driving skills course
• Evaluating new and future developments in EMS technology
• Utilizing simulation training to integrate knowledge learned during lectures with the technical abilities and judgment acquired through skills practice
• Developing effective agency SOPs for key aspects of EMS vehicle operation

Includes eBook with Interactive Tools. World-class content joins instructionally sound design in a user-friendly online interface to give instructors and participants a truly interactive and engaging learning experience with an eBook.