Whiting J D, Dunn K, March J A, Brown L H
Department of Emergency Medicine, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
Prehosp Emerg Care. 1998 Apr-Jun;2(2):136-40. doi: 10.1080/10903129808958858.
The safe operation of ambulances using warning lights and siren requires both the public and emergency medical technician (EMT) drivers to understand and obey relevant traffic laws. However, EMTs may be unfamiliar with these laws. The purpose of this study was to evaluate EMTs' knowledge of traffic laws related to the operation of ambulances with warning lights and sirens.
North Carolina EMTs participating in a statewide EMS conference October 6-8, 1995, completed a five-question survey. Knowledge of ambulance speed limits, yielding at intersections, yielding in roadways, and following distances was assessed using a multiple-choice format. Demographic data pertaining to EMT age, years of experience, paid vs volunteer status, driver's education courses, and past accident involvement were also obtained. Proportions were compared using chi-square analysis, alpha = 0.05.
Two-hundred ninety-three of 308 (95%) EMTs attending the conference completed questionnaires. The median number of correct responses to the five knowledge questions was 1 (range 0-4). Thirty-three percent of the EMTs knew that other vehicles are required by law to yield while either approaching or being overtaken by an ambulance with warning lights and sirens; 2% knew that due regard for safety is the only requirement of an ambulance approaching a red light at an intersection; 14% knew that the minimum following distance behind an ambulance is one city block; and 28% knew that there is no speed limit on ambulances with warning lights and sirens. Respondents were more likely to score above the median if they had taken one or more emergency driver's education courses or had nine years or more of EMS experience.
In this sample, EMT knowledge of basic traffic laws pertaining to ambulance operation is poor. Emergency driver's education courses and increased experience appear to be related to increased knowledge scores. Increased training for EMTs about traffic laws may improve the safe operation of ambulances.
使用警示灯和警笛的救护车安全运行，需要公众和急救医疗技术员（EMT）驾驶员都理解并遵守相关交通法规。然而，急救医疗技术员可能并不熟悉这些法规。本研究的目的是评估急救医疗技术员对与使用警示灯和警笛的救护车运行相关交通法规的了解程度。
1995年10月6日至8日参加全州紧急医疗服务会议的北卡罗来纳州急救医疗技术员完成了一项包含五个问题的调查。使用多项选择题的形式评估对救护车速度限制、在十字路口让行、在道路上让行以及跟车距离的了解情况。还获取了与急救医疗技术员年龄、工作年限、受薪与志愿状态、驾驶员教育课程以及过去事故参与情况相关的人口统计学数据。使用卡方分析比较比例，α = 0.05。
参加会议的308名急救医疗技术员中有293名（95%）完成了问卷。对五个知识问题的正确回答中位数为1（范围0 - 4）。33%的急救医疗技术员知道法律要求其他车辆在接近或被亮着警示灯并鸣着警笛的救护车超车时让行；2%的人知道救护车在十字路口接近红灯时唯一的要求是适当注意安全；14%的人知道救护车后面的最小跟车距离是一个城市街区；28%的人知道亮着警示灯并鸣着警笛的救护车没有速度限制。如果受访者参加过一门或多门紧急驾驶员教育课程，或者有九年或更长时间的紧急医疗服务经验，他们更有可能得分高于中位数。
在这个样本中，急救医疗技术员对与救护车运行相关的基本交通法规的了解较差。紧急驾驶员教育课程和更多经验似乎与更高的知识得分相关。加强对急救医疗技术员交通法规的培训可能会改善救护车的安全运行。
