Chapter 89
Ambulance safety
Christopher A. Kahn,
Christopher A. Kahn
Search for more papers by this authorChristopher A. Kahn,
Christopher A. Kahn
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):David C. Cone MD,
Jane H. Brice MD, MPH,
Theodore R. Delbridge MD, MPH,
J. Brent Myers MD, MPH,
David C. Cone MD
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorJane H. Brice MD, MPH
Professor of Emergency Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorTheodore R. Delbridge MD, MPH
Executive Director
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Brent Myers MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer ESO Associate Medical Director
Wake County EMS, Raleigh, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 18 August 2021
Summary
Ambulance crashes, and the resulting injuries, fatalities, and liability, have elevated the discussion of ambulance safety to an urgent level. This chapter includes an introduction to the issue, an exploration of the factors related to crashes, and concludes with recommendations for ways that emergency medical services professionals, medical directors, and agency administrators can help mitigate this serious problem. There is an average of nine transportation-related fatalities per year among emergency medical services personnel in the United States. They are not “accidents;” rather, they are predictable, preventable events. Working together, we can pursue a vision of improved ambulance safety and zero fatalities from ambulance crashes. This means emergency medical services professionals working with physicians, engineers, epidemiologists, researchers, manufacturers, government officials, and others to conduct rigorous research, analyze the problems, develop, test, and implement solutions, and share best practices.
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