Ambulance drivers – the unsung heroes
Six minutes. That is all it takes for brain damage to occur in an oxygen deprived brain. This time limit, traffic congestion on South African roads and emergency lanes which are often blocked by non-emergency vehicles, makes emergency service driving a potentially difficult feat.
Ambulance drivers are some of the unsung heroes of society. Their ability to drive quickly while still remaining responsible can not only mean a life is saved but prevent more injuries or casualties from occurring. It is for this reason that MasterDrive has entered into an initiative with the Department of Emergency Medical Care at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to give drivers skills necessary to get to emergency scenes responsibly and as quickly as possible.
According to training director, Derek Kirkby, after the completion of a defensive driving course with MasterDrive, you receive defensive driving accreditation. “This means if you undertake a defensive driving course your details are logged into the UJ database. We have targeted the emergency services to ensure respondents have driving skills on par with international standards.”
Consequently, instead of just receiving a certificate of competence you receive a diploma. “The benefit of this is some emergency service providers do not recognise certificates of competence. They look for a diploma instead.”
Kirkby believes emergency service responders will stand to benefit a great deal from this. “They operate in a high stress position. If safe driving techniques and skills to avoid collisions are entrenched in their driving habits, they can respond to calls in a much safer and faster manner.”
If you are completing a course in emergency services or are thinking of doing so in the future, give MasterDrive a call, on 0861 100 618, today. Completion of training with them will give you the edge when finding a job in emergency services and then excelling in that job as well.