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National College Credit Recommendation Service

Board of Regents  |  University of the State of New York

Emergency Vehicle Operator

Descriptions and credit recommendations for all evaluated learning experiences

Length:

Version 1: 56 hours (8 days). Version 2: 37.5 hours (5 days). Version 3: 52.5 hours (7 days). Version 4 and 5: 45 hours (6 days).

Dates:

Version 1: January 1995 - December 1998. Version 2: January 1999 - September 2007. Version 3: October 2007 - October 2012. Version 4: November 2012 - Present. Version 5: May 2022 - Present. 

Objectives:

Version 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: develop and utilize safe, accident free, professional ambulance driving techniques; discuss traffic laws, risk factors for ambulance accidents, vehicle handling characteristics, traffic hazards and techniques to avoid them; recognize conditions in and around the vehicle that may affect driving; and anticipate developments in traffic and prepare to respond to them.

Instruction:

Version 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: Major topics include: legal aspects of emergency vehicle operation; FDNY-EMS driving regulations; causes of ambulance accidents; defensive driving attitude analysis; mandatory vehicle inspection; anatomy of a crash; habit defense and ambulance stopping distances; lights and sirens; negotiating the intersection; backing the vehicle; vehicle maintenance and inspection; flare placement and accident situations; fueling vehicles and introduction to the diesel ambulance; steering techniques; use of mirrors; braking turns; safe driving techniques; seat belts; road and weather conditions; expressway operations; diesel operations; rear anti-lock braking systems; effects of alcohol and drugs on vehicle operator, value the aspects of safe driving. Prerequisite: New York State certification as an Emergency Medical Technician or a Paramedic.

Credit recommendation:

Version 1: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours as Emergency Vehicle Operations in Health Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, or Emergency Health Sciences (3/96). Version 2: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours as Emergency Vehicle Operations in Health Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, or Emergency Health Sciences (10/01 revalidation). Version 3: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours as Emergency Vehicle Operations in Health Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, or Emergency Health Sciences (10/07 revalidation). Version 4: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours as Emergency Vehicle Operations in Health Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, Emergency Health Sciences, or Emergency Medical Services (5/12 revalidation) (7/17 revalidation). NOTE: This course overlaps in content with Probationary EMT School (PRH 201) and Emergency Medical Technician - Basic Challenge Refresher (PRH 200R). The maximum total credit recommendation for any combination of these 3 courses is 13 semester hours. Version 5: In the lower division baccalaureate / associate degree category, 2 semester hours in Emergency Vehicle Operations in Health Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, Emergency Management Sciences, or Emergency Medical Services (6/22 revalidation). 

Length:

Version 1: 80 hours (2 weeks). Version 2, 3 and 4: 72 hours (2 weeks).

Dates:

Version 1: January 1990 - May 1999. Version 2: June 1999 - August 2007. Version 3: September 2007- September 2012. Version 4: October 2012 - Present.

Objectives:

Version 1, 2, 3, and 4: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: operate and maneuver the Engine apparatus through the city streets safely and in a manner that addresses collision avoidance; identify the proper speeds to adhere to and driving techniques employed in the Vision Zero safe driving program; know the State and Motor Vehicle Laws that must be followed to drive with care and efficiently during emergency and non-emergency responses; examine routes to be taken and formulate the best plan to reach objectives;  learn about the hydraulic properties of water and the operation of the engine pumps and calculate proper water pressure to deliver through the hose lines to successfully extinguish fires.; troubleshoot the many water problems that arise at fires when supplying hose lines; and properly position engines at hydrants and connect to those hydrants in such a way as to maximize their water potential.

Instruction:

Version 1, 2, 3 and 4: Major topics include: hydraulics; pump theory; drafting water; in-line pumping; safety; maintenance; communications; driving laboratory (including obstacle course, serpentine course, parking and backing up, over the road training); pump operation laboratory.

Credit recommendation:

Version 1, 2, and 3: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 1 semester hour in EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operation) and in the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 1 semester hour in Fire Service Hydraulics (1/95) (1/00 revalidation) (11/07 revalidation). Version 4: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Fire Service Hydraulics (5/12 revalidation) (7/17 revalidation) (6/22 revalidation). 

Length:

Version 1: 80 hours (2 weeks). Version 2, 3, and 4: 72 hours (3 weeks).

Dates:

Version 1: January 1990 - May 1999. Version 2: June 1999 - January 2005. Version 3: February 2005 - February 2010. Version 4: March 2010 - Present.

Objectives:

Version 1, 2, 3, and 4: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: operate and maneuver ladder truck apparatus safely and effectively under normal and emergency conditions; and evaluate fire and emergency situations to determine the proper placement of the apparatus and the correct deployment of the aerial ladder and tower ladder to ensure the safety and success of any rescue or fireground operation; follow and utilize driving techniques employed in FDNY's Vision Zero safe driving program;  examine possible driving routes and formulate the best plan to reach the objective; operate generator equipment on the ladder trucks that supply power to tools and lighting on the fire ground; coordinate the operation of water delivery from tower ladder or ladder pipe nozzles at the correct pressure using knowledge of hydraulics; and accurately predict the location of responding firefighters during emergencies and modify possible locations as incidents progress. 

Instruction:

Version 1, 2, 3, and 4: Major topics include: maintenance, safety, tower ladders, rear mounts and tillers, ladder placement, driving laboratory (including obstacle course, serpentine course, parking and backing up, over the road training), and ladder/tower placement and positioning laboratories.

Credit recommendation:

Version 1 and 2: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 1 semester hour in EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operation Course) (1/95) (1/00 revalidation) Version 3 and 4: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Fire Science; or 2 semester hours in EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operation Course) and in the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 1 semester hour in Fire Service Hydraulics; or 2 semester hours in Strategies and Tactics and 1 semester hour in Fire Service Hydraulics (11/07 revalidation) (6/11 revalidation) (7/16 revalidation) (6/21 revalidation).

Length:
40 hours (5 days).
Dates:
January 1993 - Present.
Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: operate and maneuver tractor-trailer apparatus in a safe and efficient manner: conduct a pre-trip inspection; hook up a trailer to a tractor, back- up, parallel park, drive through a serpentine course and perform over the road driving; employ FDNY's Vision Safe driving program; control vehicles during emergency and non-emergency responses and evaluate fire and emergency responses to determine proper placement of the apparatus and correct deployment to ensure success of all fireground operations. Students study the intracacities of tractor trailer's systems and parts. Students also prepare for the New York State Commercial Driver's Written Knowledge and Skills Tests. 

Instruction:

Major topics include: commercial driver's license program, safe driving, air brakes, cargo placement and hazardous materials, combination vehicles, trailer hook up, and pre-trip inspection procedures.

Credit recommendation:

In the associate degree/ certificate category, 1 semester hour in Fire Science or Emergency Vehicle Operations (5/04 - review conducted by the American Council on Education) (11/07) (6/11 revalidation) (7/16 revalidation) (6/21 revalidation).

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