Review of Implement Passenger Assistance Policies

Emergency Medical Services organizations have invested heavily in the improvement of patient handling equipment and ambulances (or other vehicles) to transport patients more safely to the hospital or other destinations. However it is not uncommon for passengers to want to accompany their family or loved ones in the ambulance. In many instances, these passengers may have limited mobility which may - or may not - be recognized by EMS crews at the scene. Regardless, the potential for non-patient passengers to be injured getting in and out of an ambulance should be considered by all EMS organizations.

During the recent Risk Control Survey, it was noted your organization does not have an adequate policy or practice in place to address passenger accompaniment in the ambulance or other vehicle utilized by your organization.

We recommend your organization develop (or review) a policy relating to non­ patient passengers riding in your organization's vehicles. Considerations in this policy should include, but are not limited to:

• Passengers who can ride along
• Are they capable of caring for themselves?
• Will they create a driver distraction?
• Are they able to ambulate without assistance to/from vehicle?
• Alternative transportation?
• Passenger seating
• Properly-restrained in the front seat is the preferred practice
• Passenger assistance
• Advise passenger to wait until they are assisted in/out of vehicle
• Sign on dashboard advising passenger to wait until assisted before exiting vehicle

In practice, EMS crews should not allow passengers to get in or out of your organization's vehicles without assistance. Verbally reminding passengers to wait for assistance and/or posting a notice to wait for assistance on the dashboard can reinforce this idea.

Available Resources

• Ambulance Passenger Guidelines