Transport Operations

Learning objectives (21)

1. Define the terms cleaning, disinfection, high- level disinfection, and sterilization — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
2. Demonstrate how to clean and disinfect the ambulance and equipment during the postrun phase — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
3. Demonstrate how to perform a daily inspection of an ambulance — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
4. Demonstrate how to present a verbal report that would be given to receiving personnel at the hospital upon patient transfer — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
5. Demonstrate how to write a written report that includes all pertinent patient information following patient transfer to the hospital — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
6. Describe key scene safety considerations when preparing for helicopter emergency medical services, such as a helicopter medevac, including establishing a landing zone, securing loo — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
7. Describe some high-risk situations and hazards during both pretransport and transport that may affect the safety of the ambulance and its passengers — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
8. Describe the capabilities, protocols, and methods for accessing air ambulances — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
9. Describe the key elements that must be included in the written patient care report upon patient delivery to the hospital — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
10. Describe the specific, limited privileges that are provided to emergency vehicle operators by most state laws and regulations — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
11. Discuss the guidelines for safely and defensively driving an ambulance — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
12. Discuss the importance of performing regular vehicle inspections; include the specific parts of an ambulance that should be inspected daily — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
13. Discuss the specific considerations required to ensure scene safety; include personal safety, patient safety, and traffic control — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
14. Explain the additional risks and special considerations posed by the use of police escorts, and the hazards and special con- siderations posed by crossing intersections — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
15. Identify key steps EMTs should take to improve safety while en route to the scene, the hospital, and the station — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
16. List the minimum dispatch information required by EMS to respond to an emergency call — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
17. List the nine phases of an ambulance call; include examples of key tasks EMTs perform during each phase — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
18. List the three factors that dictate the use of lights and siren to the scene and to the hospital; include the risk-versus-benefit factors regarding their use — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1423); confirm wording in your course copy.
19. Name the medical equipment carried on an ambulance; include examples of supplies that are included in each main category of the ambulance equipment checklist — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
20. Name the safety and operations equipment carried on an ambulance; include examples of how each item might be used by EMTs in an emergency — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.
21. Summarize the tasks EMTs must complete in the postrun phase — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1422); confirm wording in your course copy.

Vocabulary (10)

Phases of an ambulance call

Standard call phases — preparation, dispatch, en route, on scene, patient care, transport, at receiving facility, post-run, ready for next call.

Due regard

The legal standard that emergency vehicle operators must exercise reasonable caution for the safety of others, even when using lights and siren.

Staging

Waiting at a safe predetermined location until law enforcement or scene command authorizes EMS entry.

Pre-trip vehicle inspection

A systematic check of the ambulance and equipment at shift start to ensure readiness and identify issues before a call.

Type I, II, III ambulances

Standard U.S. ambulance designs — Type I (truck cab + modular box), Type II (van), Type III (cutaway van cab + modular box).

Air ambulance

Rotor-wing (helicopter) or fixed-wing aircraft used for rapid patient transport, especially over long distances or difficult terrain.

Landing zone (LZ)

A pre-designated, safe area for helicopter landing — typically a minimum 100×100 ft of flat, firm, obstacle-free ground.

Defensive driving

Anticipating hazards, maintaining situational awareness, and adjusting speed and position to prevent collisions.

Lights and siren response

Emergency-mode driving with audible and visual warning devices, used only when the time saved is likely to improve patient outcome.

Post-run report

Documentation completed after a call describing assessment, interventions, and patient response; the EMS patient care report (PCR).

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Quiz Me)

Quick fire sample (10 of 10 on Quiz Me)