Driving an emergency vehicle means you need to be ready for anything. At a moment’s notice, you may need to jump into action. However, if you don’t keep your vehicle in working order, you may find yourself stranded on the side of the road. Regular maintenance is crucial. These five emergency vehicle maintenance tips will ensure you can rush to save lives without delay.
Tip #1: Keep Germs at Bay
You never know who will ride in your ambulance. From broken bones to heart attacks to infectious diseases, patients need emergency transportation for many reasons. Keeping a sterile environment is a must, so it’s crucial to clean and disinfect your emergency vehicle from top to bottom.
Always clean the patient compartment and front cabin after every call. You’ll need an EPA registered solution to kill any germs. And since viruses like to travel through the air, it’s also wise to disinfect the HVAC system. Regularly changing the air filter will help reduce the spread of germs.
Tip #2: Test the Siren Speakers
Getting to calls quickly is a must, but other drivers won’t pull over if they can’t hear you coming. You should check the siren speakers daily to ensure they work. If the system isn’t functioning correctly, make sure there aren’t any blown fuses or loose wires. It’s also a good idea to inspect all the lights each week. Make a list of all the lights on your ambulance. There are quite a few, and it’s easy to miss one if you don’t know where to look.
Tip #3: Check the Coolant
Before starting the day, check your emergency vehicle’s coolant reservoir. It could spell disaster on the road if it doesn’t have enough coolant. And even if your ambulance is a full quart low, it may not be low enough to set off a warning light. Inspecting the reservoir only takes a few seconds but could save you many headaches.
Tip #4: Inspect the Tires
Emergency response vehicles need high-quality tires to quickly get from point A to point B. Drivers should check the air pressure every day before responding to calls. Low tire pressure makes maneuvering hard, especially when traveling at high speeds. Properly inflated tires will also improve fuel efficiency. You’ll be able to spend more time rescuing people than pumping gas.
Tip #5: Do a Daily Walk-Around
Make it a habit to walk around your ambulance daily. Look for damaged lights, cracked glass, sticking doors, or loose components. You don’t want something to fall off your vehicle during an emergency run, which could prevent a speedy patient pickup or cause an accident. If something looks out of place, fix it before getting behind the wheel.
Get the Most of Your Emergency Vehicle
You never know when someone may need your assistance, and keeping your emergency vehicle in tip-top shape is necessary. Whether you’re on the market for another ambulance or need a few repairs, you can count on the experts at Trinity Apparatus. We take pride in helping our customers get the service they need. Connect with us or call 936-494-2552 to learn which emergency vehicle maintenance tips we recommend.