As a Paramedic attending an emergency, time is of the essence and the faster the ambulance crew can get to a location the better it is for all involved.

1. Paramedics and Driving
Becoming An Ambulance Driver
As a Paramedic attending an emergency, time is of the essence and the faster the ambulance crew
can get to a location the better it is for all involved.
This really is life or death and so much of this depends on the skills of the driver!
Superb, road-aware driving skills must be used at all times in this driving related profession, as well
as being able to cope in the middle of a major disaster – these are some of the key components of
being a paramedic driver.
The first step is to become qualified...
A clean driving record is a must for anyone wanting to retrain in this career. In the U.K, most
university courses require that you hold five GCSE grades ‘C’ or above. These must include the
core subjects of Maths and English. 2 or more A-Levels/BTEC qualifications are also preferable.
A great idea is to get in touch with your careers adviser if you are still studying at University and
find out more. Or you can try contacting your local NHS Ambulance Trust, who are currently the
largest employer of paramedics in the United Kingdom.
As you know, you will be required to drive on the front line in all cases alongside your medical
training. This will usually involve you having acategory’C1′ on your Driving Licence (this is for
vehicles weighing between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg). Also to be allowed to drive under emergency
conditions, paramedics will also be required to pass an emergency driving course which is normally
three to four weeks in duration. The NHS Trusts will often provide this as in-house training, but
there are alternative providers of this training.
There are some restrictions to keep in mind...
For example those with certain medical conditions themselves will not be allowed to drive an
ambulance or any other emergency vehicle. These includes those who are insulin-
dependentdiabetics, and those with severe Epilepsy. It is always worth checking the full list of these
conditions include anything that you maybe suffering from.
Many Universities work together with ambulance services to provide training. If you are not
currently thinking about studying at a university there are a small number of NHS Ambulance
Trusts who offer programs for complete beginners.
There are certain courses where the ambulance trust is able to pay all the relevant fees for the
course.There maybe a condition that the pupil being trained and financially supported by their trust,
will be expected to work for them after qualification.Again these are all aspects to research and take
into consideration.
Being a paramedic is just one example of the many rewarding career choices that will involve your
driving skills on a vocational level!
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