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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From:
William L. Wright, Fire Chief
Subject:
Request of Council to approve out of
state travel for 4 Fire Dept.
instructors to attend an Ambulance
driver training preceptor class in
Phoenix,Arizona.
Dept:
FIRE (201)
ORIGINAL
Date:
December 11, 1996
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
No previous Council action.
Recommended motion:
That the Mayor and Common Council approve out of state travel for four (4)
members of the Fire Department so that they may attend the "Emergency
Vehicle Advanced Driving Education" preceptor course offered by EVADE in
Phoenix, Arizona.
T
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William L. Wright, Fire Orief
Contact person: Daniel Dickerson, Deputy Fire Chief
Phone:
384-5286
Supporting data attached: yes
Ward:
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount: $1,542.80
Source: (Acct. No.1 501 208 5133
(Acct. Description) EMS Fund: Education and Trainin"
Finance:
Council Notes:
/h3/97
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Agenda Item No /1
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Of
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
STAFF REPORT
In the Council adopted ''Feasibility Study for Providing Emergency Medical Transportation to the
City of San Bernardino Residents and Visitors" prepared for the City by the Emergency Care
Information Center (See attachment A), it is strongly recommended that the Fire Department
develop and implement a ''low force" comprehensive Ambulance driver training program. We
now have the opportunity to send four (4) instructors to the ''Emergency Vehicle Advanced
Driving Education" (EVADE) preceptor course in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 27,28, and 29,
1997 free of charge. The only cost of this course to the EMS fund would be travel and expenses.
These particular class dates are all being offered to our training staff free of charge by EVADE
representative Roy Ryals. Additionally, all training aids and materials will be provided non gratis.
Training of this cahber generally costs $500.00 per student elsewhere (tuition only).
The EVADE preceptor course will allow us to conduct "in house" training to our ambulance
operators. It will facilitate nationally recognized EVADE Certification for our drivers which is
the standard in the field. This training is also recognized and highly advised by Risk Management
Safety Officer Tom Marek (See attachment B).
The "in house" program will also provide substantial dollar/cost savings over outside programs.
Although no comparable driving programs are offered locally, the San Bernardino Sheriff's
Department offers a defensive driving "Ambulance Module eight (8) hour class." Although
inferior to an EVADE program tuition is still $250.00 per student, current Fire Department
projections suggest that ninety (90) fire department personnel will require ambulance driver
training before we transport our first patient. If this training is provided by the Sheriff's
Department, costs will exceed $22,500.00. If taught "in house", the program will be administered
"on shift" to "on shift" personnel at virtually no cost to the EMS FUND. This would save the
$22,500.00 + and provide employees with state of the art training.
EVADE training will also create pOSSIble cost recovery through interagency contract training.
The Department could offer EVADE to other agencies for a reasonable fee.
Funds have been allocated in the EMS Fund budget for this purpose.
75-0264
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~~ EME.RGENCY CARE INFORMATION CENTER
A++CAdmeY1-+
"AN
Feasibility Study for Providing
Emergency Medical Treatment and Transportation
to the City of San Bernardino Residents and Visitors
Preliminary Draft
January IS, 1993
the Be" Source 01 EMS Information
M.dlcdl9111nformalton System . EMS lnoi_ Not_II.' . In. [CIC DcIQCO>e . Re!earCh A comu~inO services
PO. Box 2789. CdMbod. Collfcmlo 9201 8 . 1>191431-9797. FAX 1>191431-8135
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Improving the overall level of care, 110t just correcting an individual
situation. should be the long-term &oal.
4. Procedure Performance Review Process
Individual procedures are also measured on two dimensions,
appropriateness and desired outcome. Analyses of both dimensions
are needed to Identify system-wide trends and skill deftciencies of
individual paramedics. ~ucatjonal focus should be on individual
proficiency and system excellence.
5. Procedure Compliance
A Quality Review Board composed of peers, supervisors, and hospital
personnel nominated by the medical director should be formed to
determine the facts and recommend actions. A progressive system of
corrective action corresponding to the level of noncompliance allows
for flexibility of action.
C. Driver Training and Ambulance Operation \~. ell....
The Department should develop and implement a "low forces"
comprehensive driver training program designed to train and monitor
ambulance driving performance. Understanding ambulance operation is
essential to the safe transportation of patients, safety of Department
employees and the safety of the public. The driving an ambulance is very
different from operating a fire apparatus. A mbulances have a hiilh center
of gravity, are often operating at near maximum gross weight and seem to
be as maneuverable as a car. Each of these factors make driver training a
necessity. Any driver training or expe..;ence that has been obtained would
have been obtained outside of the organization and with very little
standardization.
The imponance of 1.....""J . j I .. "1?".)'~"., The emergency
response of the Department's ambulance fleet pro'oably poses the largest
single increase in the city's risk exposure that might be experienced with
the indusion of the transport componene in the Department's EMS
program.
Preliminary Drall
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S. B. PUBLIC SER','ICES ~ 9093845281
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1. Driver Training Program Options
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1l1e Department can take one of two approaches to driver training.
Option #1: the Department could have its training officer attend an
instructor trainer course and then provide classroom instruction using
audio-visual mediums, instructional aids and behind the wheel driver
trainin:. Several pro:rams specifically designed for the safe operauon
of ambulances are available.
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Option 112: the Department could comfict with an ambulance driving
instruction firm (0 provide a course using their own audio-visuals and
training devices, including in some programs an ambulance to drive
through coned patterns.
Two well.known procrams are Allsafe Driving, Inc. of Pinole, CA
and th ~u UilI - -11.1"'" It. fFE Arizona. In addition to
professionally administered programs, a variety of video and bound
materials are available to enhance in-house training prOirams.
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To ensure a smooth implementation the Department should beilll
trainin: personnel prior to initiatin: transport services. To provide
feedback to operators regarding driving performance it is further
recommended that a drivini computer capable of monitotio, the forces
being elCened against the ambulance be installed.
2. Driving Standards
The Department should implement a pre-employment process that
assesses applicant DMV records to determine previous driving habits
and activities. Once personnel have been cleared to drive they should
be required to maintain a reasonably clean driving record to remain
qualified to drive the ambulance.
Existing EMS persoMel with poor driving records should be
monitored for high. risk driving habits. Emergency vehicle operation
is a skill that requires good judgment and caution. The ability of
Department personnel to dcmonstratc such skill and judgment would
certainly be indicative of their ability to operatc fire suppression
apparatus liS an engineer.
Pn!liminary Draft
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A ftac- h VYI e- n -t
13
I N T E R 0 F F ICE
M E M 0 RAN DUM
Date:
From:
ll-Dec-1996 11:17am PST
Tom Marek
MAREK_TO
RISK
384-5090
Dept:
Tel No:
TO:
Sue Murphy
MURPHY _SU
CC:
Edward Raya
RAYA_ED
Subject: Ambulance Driver Training
(Please pass to Dana Austin)
From a safety and liability standpoint it is critical that all
City ambulance drivers be properly trained. As you know there
are major differences between driving a fire engine/truck and
driving an ambulance. I highly recommend that:
A "low forces" ambulance driving program be developed
for the City of San Bernardino.
All paramedics and other personnel who drive ambulances
must be trained and certified before they are permitted to
transport patients or even respond to a call.
Previous ambulance driver training is not a substitute
for the new San Bernardino training program.
Overall, one person should be assigned as lead instructor
and be responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring
the ambulance driver training program. An instructor from each
shift should be responsible for the training of all personnel
assigned to that shift. This core of four instructors will
ensure standardized training and good coordination.
It is essential that these four instructors become
experts in ambulance driving. As a minimum they should all
attend one of the professional ambulance courses, such as Allsafe
Driving, Inc. or the~~AD~ program in Phoenix.
The initial training for ambulance drivers must include
classroom instruction plus behind the wheel driver training.
Formal testing and evaluation are necessary before certifying a
person to drive an ambulance. A program of recurring training
and evaluation should be developed.
I will be happy to help you any way that I
to call me at 5090 or 5308.
ca.n.
Don't hesitate