Don’t tail the ambulance to the hospital, warns Fresno’s American Ambulance

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Following close behind an ambulance when your loved one is inside and being rushed to the hospital could make things worse, warns Fresno-based American Ambulance.

According to American Ambulance’s Ben Wiele, drivers following closely behind ambulances has happened before in the Central Valley – and it has caused problems.

“You’re not going to expect that it’s going to happen, but it does occasionally occur,” Wiele said. “I vividly remember telling an EMT partner who was driving us to the hospital, to shut down lights and sirens because a family member was driving very unsafe behind us.”

Wiele says if someone follows an ambulance, EMTs are taught to use their best judgment to prevent car accidents – and more trips to the hospital. An EMT traveling with sirens and lights on may even decide to turn lights and sirens off if the patient is stabilized and the ambulance isn’t far from the hospital.

“I want to make sure that we all get there safely,” Wiele said. “So we’re all going to complete the transport by following the road directions.”

In conversation with YourCentralValley.com on Tuesday, Wiele says American Ambulance policy is to stop for all red lights – even if the lights and sirens are on – and then go through the intersection at 15 mph before speeding up again on the other side. The danger is that someone concerned about their loved one in the back of the ambulance could proceed through that red light along with the ambulance and put themselves at risk.

“We don’t want you to proceed through a red light behind us because we’re doing it. We don’t know what other drivers are going to be thinking when we proceed through the intersection,” said Wiele. “If somebody is coming from our left or right and they don’t see the family member coming behind us on the red light that’s what really concerns us.”

Wiele adds that lights and sirens can only save ambulances anywhere from 60 to 90 seconds in a 10-minute transport, so making the right call to use them is important.

“Lights and sirens are a risk. It presents a risk,” Wiele said. “We use it judiciously and we ask that all crew members are really alert during those periods.”

Wiele warns that nothing good can come from following an ambulance so the best thing anyone who wants to see their loved one in the hospital can do is drive safely to the hospital in their own time.

“You’re not going to be able to come with us through the back doors anyway. Go to the front, let them know that you’re there and they’re going to let you back as soon as possible.”