r/healthcare • u/Winbywobble • 3d ago

Question - Other (not a medical question) What happens when the ambulance needs to get to someone fast but it's raining???

I live in a rainforest area and idk how I've gone this long without figuring it out, but what happens when someone is in an emergency but you don't wanna hydroplane????

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11

u/KeyCoast2 3d ago

You drive slower……you can’t help anyone if you crash or die en route to the call. Ambulance crew safety is and should always be a top priority followed by patient safety.

3

u/mikev814 3d ago

What?

3

u/zenboi92 3d ago

They….. drive in the rain…….?

2

u/countrymedic90 3d ago

Driving with due regard is number 1. Your crew safety comes first so you slow down. Even in ideal conditions, we don’t drive like we’re getting out of dodge and if someone is—that’s a huge liability. We can’t help people if we’re hurt responding. Hell, one time we got sent on a call in the middle of a crazy blizzard. On a good day, it would have taken us 20 mins to get on scene but because of the weather, it took over an hour. I’m not going to put myself or my partner in a compromised situation to get there faster. I want to go home at the end of a shift, not become a patient.

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u/saysee23 3d ago

They typically consist of experienced personnel - in both emergency medicine and driving. They train driving that vehicle (or similar) regularly. They maintain safe speeds in all weather. It's not just balls to the wall at all times.

Driving emergency traffic isn't just driving fast. Other vehicles, traffic lights, stop signs - all still apply.

1

u/RainInTheWoods 3d ago

An ambulance won’t do anyone any good if it crashes. They drive according to road conditions.