An ambulance driver is not just a driver. While the designation does simply say “driver”, the actual work of an ambulance driver is much more than merely driving an ambulance to and from the hospital.
Working at this position means that you will be assisting EMTs with their work, as well as driving the vehicle that has been assigned to you.
Since the work of an ambulance driver is considered quite challenging, it is important for the person applying for this position to be calm and level-headed.
You will often be asked to work in a hurry so that you can reach your destination on time – and save lives. You will also be required to possess great physical and mental agility so that you have the presence of mind to help with emergency situations as they occur.
Typically, an ambulance driver drives an EMT (or a team of EMTs) to the location of an emergency.
Their assistance may or may not be needed, depending on the type of emergency in question. Nonetheless, it is imperative to know emergency procedures in case you are needed.
Some of the important duties of an ambulance driver include:
Ambulance Driver Duties, Tasks, Roles and Responsibilities
• Ensure that the designated ambulance is kept ready at all times, by fueling it on time and checking oil levels and tire pressure.
• Clean and sanitize assigned ambulance from the inside after each haul, by following set sanitation procedures of the facility.
• Make sure that all consumable items such as medication and oxygen, along with emergency management equipment are available and ready to use.
• Take orders from the dispatcher to rush to scenes of emergencies and map out appropriate routes on either conventional maps or the GPS.
• Carefully but urgently drive the ambulance to the destination, changing routes when necessary.
• Assist EMTs in setting up emergency equipment such as oxygen tanks and defibrillators.
• Provide assistance with medical procedures such as First Aid and CPR as instructed by the EMT.
• Assist in carrying victims of accidents or unwell people to the awaiting ambulance and gently but securely strap them in.
• Drive the ambulance to the designated hospital or facility while keeping the dispatcher aware of the ambulance’s whereabouts
• Help in disembarking patients from the ambulance and rushing them to emergency rooms.
• Create and maintain a log of all hauls within a day and submit them for review on a daily basis.
Education & Certifiation Requirements
To work at this position, you need a high school diploma or a GED equivalent, a driver’s license (of course), and certification in both CPR and First Aid.