Cell phones and EMS vehicle operators.

[Medic117]

I would like to guage your opinions on cell phone use by emergency vehicle operators. As a paramedic, without even looking in the front of the unit, I know when my partner is using a cell phone. The company refuses to make a policy regarding the issue, but were we to have an accident, I would be held liable for "not ensuring safe driving." When I confront him/her, I'm "just being a dick", and he/she doesn't listen. If I report the issue, the safety officer tells the staff that I'm out writing people up, then conspiracies arise amongst the staff to write me up (I'm pretty "by the book," but no one wants to be a target). If I talk to my supervisor, they say,"we don't really have a policy..." However, the safety officer says that I am supposed to address issues such as this, though I have no actual authority. It would be easy to say that I should seek other employment, but the service I am with is known worldwide for clinical breakthroughs in EMS. Any ideas on how to deal with safety issues in this environment?

[Dustdevil]

I'm not familiar with the state of "South", so I have to ask, does "South" have a state law addressing cellphone use while driving?

[JakeEMTP]

I despise the fact my partner talked on the phone while driving me and my patient to the hospital. I confronted her about it and said " You know, you're really not as important as you think you are. Whatever it is that is SO important that you feel the need to jeapordise my life and the patients, will have to wait or you'll be off the ambulance".

We recently instituted a policy regarding this issue that I helped create. No cell phone use is permitted while driving the ambulance. None. Nada. If I feel the need to call a supervisor to replace you, I will. I do not and will not tolerate cell phone use while driving. We are here to work, not socialise. Perhaps it's because I grew up in a era when no one had a cell phone ( I know the under 30 crowd will find it hard to believe and I think I just heard a collective GASP!) and we seemed to function ok. Cell phone use whilst driving is a proven distraction that is easily removed. With or without the user.

[Dustdevil]

Problem is, it's really hard to defend this kind of policy in an organisation that has MDTs mounted for the drivers' use.

[john51071]

At a recent place of employment (I recently left for a much better offer), cell phone use was prohibited for drivers AND attendants, unless directly involving patient care, such as medical control contact. MDT use was also not allowed while operating the vehicle. I also started in the era where there were no cell phones, no one had a PC, much less an MDT. It worked. It was seemingly much safer. Cell phone use while driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. Anyone who broke this rule was disciplined..and dismissed if it happened again. Talking on a cell phone in an ambulance with a patient on board is rude and unprofessional. Doing it with OR without a patient jeopardizes the lives of everyone in that vehicle, and those of the motorists around them. I am all for forbidding it.

[JPINFV]

At a recent place of employment (I recently left for a much better offer), cell phone use was prohibited for drivers AND attendants, unless directly involving patient care, such as medical control contact.

The only reason that I can see for using a cell phone anytime a patient is around. I think that cell phone/radio/MDT usage essentially presents the same risk, and their use while driving should be as limited as possible. The real unfortunately thing is that people in general (EMS and otherwise) don't have enough good sense and fore thought to know when to tell the person on the phone to hold on a minute and to put the object down when the driving situation gets sticky.

Of course there are worse things that I've had FTOs tell me to do while driving.

[spenac]

You use the cell phone while driving me and my patient your going to think you should have had a V8.

[Arizonaffcep]

I know there are those here who dislike "firemonkeys," however there is a case where they have done something right. The policy for Phoenix Fire is that, if it is a "critical call," one where their ambulance is transporting Code 3, then they not only bring a herd of riders in back (gets too damned crowded sometimes), but also include one "shotgun" up front, where they work the MCT AND keep an extra eye out for stupid drivers. This frees up the driver to--just drive. Kinda nice. I am not a fan of anyone who uses a cell when driving (yes, I am guilty too). But, there's so much extra stuff as distracters ALREADY in a box...why add to it? That safety officer in the OP should be shot for spreading "rumors" like that. Certainly, if he/she is unwilling to create a policy to address this obvious disregard for someone else's life, then they should be fired and black balled because they don't deserve to be in any profession where they are responsible for overseeing safety concerns.

[tskstorm]

I use my phone while driving all the time and its pretty standard practice around here ... I've even had SGT's riding in the back of the ambulance as an escort write me a fake summons for talking on my cell (to a supervisor regarding a mandate) It really is a big joke around here....

We all know new york is a different animal ...

Although I agree there are risks with talking on a cell and driving I don't think its as serious and as cut and dry as you guys are make it sound ... Ive worked with supervisors who talk on the phone and smoke with a patient in the back who's on oxygen ....

Now chew me up ... spit me out .... and repeat a few dozen times ....

I love you all:)

[WolfmanHarris]

I hope you were playing devil's advocate. Otherwise I question your judgement and the effort you take to stay educated and competent.

Cell phone while driving = as bad as/worse than driving drunk

Insurance Information Institute

There's lots of useful information (poorly cited I'm afraid), but this one deserves particular highlighting:

Motorists who use cellphones while driving are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves, according to a study of drivers in Perth, Australia, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The results, published in July 2005, suggest that banning hand-held phone use will not necessarily improve safety if drivers simply switch to hand-free phones. The study found that injury crash risk didn't vary with type of phone.

Nation's Banning Cell Use While Driving

Arguing that "everyone else is doing it" isn't necessarily logical, but this does show that the issue is taken seriously around the world.

University of Utah News

Summary article on the Utah study comparing cell phones and driving with drunk driving.

Summary of USA State lawes on cell usage with driving

These are all from the first pages that came up when I googled "Cell Phones and Driving."

Current practices and technology make some things we do that are unsafe a necessity from time to time. Whether it be getting up unbuckled to adjust something on a patient during transport, using the radio, or referring to the GPS. These should not be used as excuses for having even less regard for your own safety or that of your patient but as an accepted risk we attempt to manage and look to remove in the long term.

With regards to the initial poster I question how world renowned your service can be clinically with what seems like (by your description) deficient management. I hardly think a million and one policies are the answer to everything, but no good leader should be throwing up their hands to an unacceptable situation and saying "oops we don't have a policy. Maybe later." Is your world-renowned service resting on its laurels from some accomplishments and creating an atmosphere of complacency?

I wish I had better advice for you specifically on how to deal with your problem. You don't need sycophants telling you how bad cell phones and driving are. Without knowing the specifics of your work environment I'm at a loss. My only advice is sometimes its worth it to be the s***disturber.

- Matt