In a medical team, it is the ambulance driver and the personnel who are the first people to reach a patient in need of immediate medical attention. Ambulance drivers basically operate the vehicles that carry sick people or accident victims from the spot of the incident to the hospital. They are employed by hospitals, police, fire departments and community squads for first aid. There are also some private ambulance companies which provide invalid or emergency carrier service. Invalid carrier service is offered in various situations like transporting a recovering patient from the hospital and into a nursing home.

The basic responsibility of an ambulance driver is to transport those who need instant medical attention or injured victims from accident sites etc. to a hospital in the least amount of time possible so as to get them the medical expertise as soon as possible. As an ambulance driver you are also trained to provide basic life support to injured or seriously ill people. Often, ambulance drivers are trained to be emergency medical technicians when they reach their patients. There are different levels of this training like basic, intermediate and advanced.

Every candidate for an ambulance driver post needs to be about 18 years old at least. They should possess a bus driving license and a clean driving record. It is also required that they possess a Red Cross first aid training certificate. If they want to proceed to become an emergency medical technician or a paramedic, it is required of them to complete the formal training program and get certification. Henceforth, the certification needs to be renewed once in 2 years.

An ambulance driver needs to be well trained in the area of basic life support and first aid to be ready and prepared in any sort of situation. They need to be quick to react and should be attentive to any minute detail in the injured person's condition as any lapse in judgment could result in fatality. They need to have very good communication skills and stay calm when under pressure. They need to have emotional resilience, be reassuring, responsible, be patient and be physically fit. They should also genuinely care for the well being of the patients.

Usually the training period lasts about 2 to 3 weeks. First thing they learn is first aid and basics of life support. They are trained on how to handle and move patients.

Also, basics of patient care skills and the safe driving techniques for such specialists are taught to them. After this basic training, the trainee drivers work in the allotted ambulance station while under supervision for a certain probationary period.

Usually for first time ambulance drivers, the only experience that counts is the performance during the probationary period where they are under supervision at the ambulance station upon completing training. But for those who have field experience, it is easier to land a job but they are advised to undergo further training to climb to the post of a qualified ambulance technician, paramedic or emergency medical technician.

Ambulance drivers can do the advanced training and hence, become paramedics in the future after the appropriate training as well as certification required. This training program usually lasts only 10-12 weeks longer but it is a much more intensive course. Also, there are opportunities for an ambulance driver to move up the ladder and get into operational management, training, control room work and other areas of management. They can also train as crew for helicopter ambulance or air ambulance or as car and motorcycle Rapid Response Units.

The median salary that an average ambulance driver draws is around $24,000- $32,000 per year. The added benefits paid include holidays and vacations, health insurance and not to forget retirement plans.

With about 35 to 40 hours on the job per week, the salary is known to be a little inappropriate but there are benefits granted like paid vacations and holidays, retirement plans and health insurance.

Ambulance services are the artery of the National Health Service (NHS). Patient transport service is essential to the well being of the ill and injured. It deals with some non emergency work like driving the patient both to and fro from the outpatient clinic, day care center or hospital admissions. Usually patients are elderly or are those with special needs and hence, they require the medical support as well as reassurance.

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