Australia Model Code of Practice: Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry 3.10b: 3.10 Manage emergency response driving and prevent vehicle roll-aways

Emergency transport raises risk because of urgency, time constraints, stress and special road rules, which can lead to higher speed, rapid decisions and stressful interactions, so employers must consider and manage these risks. In the example, paramedics responding to chest pain drove fast and through red lights, and then one was injured carrying the patient down stairs with no lift, so the operator increased the number of ambulances carrying patient hoists, noted equipment in the dispatch system and asked emergency callers whether a building has stairs. Roll-aways cause many serious injuries and deaths, can involve any vehicle including ambulances, and arise from parking on slopes or unstable ground with brakes not engaged, brake failure or poor maintenance, starting in gear, accidental use of controls, wheels not immobilised and no training on correct immobilisation.