This article delves into tactics for preventing and mitigating ambulance rollovers.

1. 9/8/12 3 keys to preventing ambulance rollover
1/3www.ems1.com/safety/articles/1284719-3-keys-to-preventing-ambulance-rollover/
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David Bradley of VFIS played this video during the
Fire­Rescue Med presentation to show the effects
of a rollover on occupants in the cab.
Trouble viewing the video? Download Flash player here
Related Article:
Seat Belt Use in the Patient Care
Compartment
Related Feature:
NIOSH report details
Ga. firefighter­medic
rollover LODD
Investigation inconclusive
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3 keys to preventing ambulance rollover
Knowledge of roads, vehicles, drivers are critical to safe arrival at emergency
By Sarah M. Smart
EMS1 Editor
News flash: Roads are not designed for large emergency vehicles. And rollovers, although preventable in
many cases, are still a major cause of on­duty injuries and deaths.
While only 3 percent of emergency vehicle crashes are
rollovers (single­vehicle accident where the rollover is
the first harmful event), 33 percent of fatal crashes
are. So what are the factors in rollovers, and how can
we mitigate them so we arrive at every emergency
safely?
The issues came under the spotlight during a session
at Fire­Rescue Med, held by the IAFC's EMS section.
David Bradley, education specialist at VFIS, outlined
how studies show the most common rollover
circumstances:
Relative speed: Vehicle speed measured at any
mph considered to be unsafe relative to the
operating environment
Soft shoulder drop­off
Uneven surface drop­off with improper recovery
Following are three keys to ambulance safety.
The road
Most lane widths hover around 12 feet, giving typical
7­ to 8­foot­wide fire apparatus and ambulances only
about 2 feet of wiggle room on each side. That's not
very much when you consider the challenges of driving
large, heavy, boxy trucks to an emergency.
Also of note are shoulder conditions on the road. These
have a significant impact on the driver's ability to
recover from losing control. In order of best to worst
for recovery, here are shoulder conditions to train for:
Paved shoulder
Unpaved hard shoulder with uneven drop­off
Unpaved soft shoulder
No shoulder
The vehicle
Thousands of pounds of EMS gear, water, ladders and
other supplies are packed into emergency vehicles,
placing a heavy load on each tire. So when a driver
loses control, starts to run off the road (to the right, for
example) and follows the natural instinct to jerk the
wheel to the left, the already unsteady vehicle often
tips to the right and rolls over.
The more top­heavy the vehicle, the more likely it is to
3 keys to preventing ambulance rollover
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2. 9/8/12 3 keys to preventing ambulance rollover
2/3www.ems1.com/safety/articles/1284719-3-keys-to-preventing-ambulance-rollover/
Investigation inconclusive
if seat belt was worn
during '09 ambulance
collision
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The more top­heavy the vehicle, the more likely it is to
roll over. SUVs, often used as QRVs, have the highest
number of rollover incidents among emergency
vehicles. Ambulances place second, and tankers come
in third.
The driver
The operator of the fire truck or ambulance is the most important piece of the rollover puzzle. Driver error,
often as a result of inexperience and/or lack of training, is the single most significant factor in rollover
crashes.
Human aspects, such as maturity, physical condition and even the ability to control one's emotions are as
critical to safe driving as acquired abilities, like driving record and specific emergency vehicle driver training.
Training and experience are of critical importance to overcome instinct, Bradley said.
"We've got to get those mental seeds planted of what we should do," he said.
The takeaway
If you are driving an ambulance or a fire truck and find yourself on the brink of a rollover:
Do not apply full braking: Take your foot off the gas or downshift when appropriate to allow the
vehicle to slow down gradually. If you must brake, do so softly
Stop or slow down before correcting: Then gently steer the vehicle back onto the road surface in
a low gear with feathered acceleration if you must overcome a drop­off
Don't jerk the wheel: Trying to return to the road surface quickly increases the risk of rollover
Some tips to drive more safely and reduce rollover:
Slow down: Pay attention to speed limit signs, and keep the vehicle at or below speed, especially
during inclement weather. While response times are a concern, larger vehicles need more time to slow
down in the event of a sudden obstacle, and you definitely can't do your job if you never make it to
the call
Buckle up: Always use your seatbelt. Most rollover fatalities are from ejections. "The seatbelt keeps
the operator in the seat and in contact with the brake, accelerator and steering wheel," Bradley said.
"Put the right person in the left seat": While youthful drivers may have quicker reactions, they
could lack driving experience and the right amount of emotional control. Middle­aged drivers may have
good experience but might not be too concerned with skill maintenance. Finally, mature drivers may
be cautious and experienced but may have illnesses or declining physical abilities that could keep them
from driving safely and effectively. The ideal driver will have no Class A driving violations and fewer
than two Class B violations in the past three years
Train: We train for so many other safety concerns, so why should driving emergency vehicles be any
different? SOPs should address intersection approach, backing guidelines, driver responsibilities and
more. All drivers need to be trained to understand the relevant laws and legal liabilities, and they need
continuing and ongoing refresher training, both in the classroom and behind the wheel
More information on emergency vehicle rollovers and driver training can be found through VFIS.
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3. 9/8/12 3 keys to preventing ambulance rollover
3/3www.ems1.com/safety/articles/1284719-3-keys-to-preventing-ambulance-rollover/
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