Defensive Driving Course Now Online

In a move to make driving instruction available to more emergency vehicle operators, the National Safety Council is now offering online training programs. The programs are specifically designed for emergency vehicle operators to refresh and improve their driving skills in both emergency and nonemergency situations.

According to James Solomon, NSC's product development and training manager for the courses, everything is included that the operator of an emergency vehicle would need to know, including: proper vehicle inspection; driving with lights and siren; proper loading of the vehicle; working with patients and family members; and much more.

"You even learn about driving and handling capabilities of various types of ambulances," says Solomon. "Participants can log out at any time, bookmark their spot and log back in later to complete the program. Once you get to the testing area at the end, though, you can't back up. You have to go through the test and pass it to get a certificate."

Successful completion of the CEVO II: Ambulance Online course earns ambulance operators a minimum of six Operational CEUs, accredited by the NSC.

NSC does extensive research on what vehicle operators think is important to include in an online class, says course designer Bill Waslick.

"One reason we thought the online course would work is because not all states have NSC chapters, and some squads may be 50 miles from a training agency," he says. "This way, they can take the class at their own leisure, at home or at work. Driving instruction is such a need in EMT classes. So much attention is given to patient care, and rightly so; however, if you don't get to the scene of the injury or illness, you won't help anyway."

For more information, go to: www.nsc.org/onlinetraining/driving/cevo.cfm.

--MN