Ride Along Program

A. Purpose
B. Applicants for the Ride-A-Long Program
C. How to Enter the Ride-A-Long Program
D. Ride-A-Long Rules
E. Completion of the Ride-A-Long Program

A. Purpose

  1. To give prospective members an opportunity to ride along on actual rescue calls for a period of 60 days. This will help the prospective member decide if they desire to become a member of the PVFRS. The 60-day time period applies to ALL applicants (regardless of certification) EXCEPT Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department Personnel, whose length of time will be 30 days, as explained later in this document.
  2. To give officers and members a chance to observe a prospective members's manner and attitude during rescue calls. This will help officers and members decide if PVRS will invest in membership and training of the Ride-A-Long candiate.
    1. Manner and attitude includes (but is not limited to) the following:
      • The ability to understand and follow instructions
      • The frequency of actual calls made, and the frequency of attempts made, demonstration of the willingness to commit to, and be an active contributing member of this organization.

B. Applicants for the Ride-A-Long Program

  1. Any person wishing to become a members of the PVRS must first participate in the Ride-A-Long Program.
  2. Current members of the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department who desire membership on the Rescue Squad must participate in the Ride-A-Long program for thirty (30 days; however, to be eligible for memberships, they must have completed their Fire Department Probationary period. Upon entering in the PVRS membership, the member is subject to the same rules and regulations as any member in training.
  3. Fire Department members participating in the Ride-A-Long program will not receive ride-a-long credit if they serve as drivers of the squad. Ride-A-Long time must be done in the back of the squad in the presence of patient care.

C. How to Enter the Ride-A-Long Program

  1. Any person interested in participating in the PVRS Ride-A-Long program must first fill out an application form, which may be obained from any current member of the squad.
  2. Application must be filled out and turned in.
  3. The application is turned over to the PVRS Investigating Committee for review.
  4. The applicant will be contact within sever (7) calendar days for an interview. The Investigating Committee with at least one Duty Officer (Duty Officer is defined as the Captain and Lieutenants) present to participate in the interview process will conduct the interview.
  5. If the committee accepts the applicant, he/she will fill out the necessary insurnace forms supplied by the Investigating Committee. A Committee Member will submit the forms to the city and inform the applicant when he/she is cleared to ride the squad.
  6. The rules and regulations will be read and discussed, the candidate will read and sign anacknowledgement of understanding to be kept in his/her file.
  7. The Ride-A-Long will be issed a pager, a copy of the bylaws and SOG's. The rules and regulations of the program will be explained by the duty officers.
  8. A meeting with the candidate will be scheduled at the end of 30 days for a "thirty day review". This meeting will be conducted by a Duty Officer and is for the purpose of correcting problems and answering questions and issues that may arise within the first 30 days. This also serves to keep the lines of communication open. A checklist will be used, at the conclusion of the meeting both the Ride-A-Long and the Duty Officer will sign this checklist. This checklist will be kept on file. For the PVFD members serving as Ride-A-Longs, this review will be the first and final review.
  9. A final review will be held at the end of 60 days, just prior to the vote of the membership. The same procedures will be used as for the "thirty day review".

D. Ride-A-Long Rules

  1. It is understood - Ride-A-Long personnel are not members of the PVRS.
  2. The Ride-A-Long will go as an observer and as crew capacity dictates. The Ride-A-Long program cannot drive, cannot participate in hands-on patient care (other than CPR if CPR qualified with current CPR car), or use the radio. Violation of any of these rules will be just cause of immediate dismissal from the program. The duty officers or a majority vote of the squad membership will carry out such action. The individual who stands in violation will have no possibility for entering into squad membership.
  3. A Ride-A-Long may help carry squad equipment as directed by the squad members. During manpower shortages may be asked to help lift and carry patients, assist with the NARSIS forms, and again, assit with CPR (if CPR qualified with a current CPR card), but these exceptions are the only participation allowed on rescue calls.
  4. Squad calls are private and privileged information that are not to be discussed with outsiders. The patient's name and problems are not to be revealed to the public.
  5. Ride-A-Longs will not respond to a rescue call from a bar or under the influence of alcohol. This applies to both Ride-A-Longs and the membership. (Influence is defined as any alcholic drink or any kind or amount).
  6. Ride-A-Longs do not qualify for Red Light permits, and therefore, will not use red lights or sirens to respond to a call. Traffic rules and regulations will be observed. Fire Department members who already have Red Light permits may use their red light when responding to a rescue call.
  7. Ride-A-Longs will respond to the Fire Station when summoned for a rescue call, responding to the location of the call is not permitted.
  8. Ride-A-Longs should conduct themselves with quiet professionalism and with responsible behavior, using common sense as any situation warrants.
  9. Ride-A-Longs will wear identification on calls supplied by the PVRS, no apparel from outside agencies is permitted (it causes confusion amount bystanders and patients).
  10. The Ride-A-Long will follow instructions given by the senior squad membership present on the rescue call.
  11. At the end of the rescue call, the Ride-A-Long will help in the cleanup and restocking of supplies on the squad.
  12. A notebook is provided so the Ride-A-Long may log all responses to rescue call, whether or not he/she actually made the squad. All responses must be logged.
  13. The Ride-A-Long is required to attend the monthly business meetings and training sessions as part of the orientation process. Excused absences must be obtained by notifying any of the Duty Officers or the Administrative Officers.

E. Completion of the Ride-A-Long Program

  1. After 60 days (30 days for a PVFD member), the Ride-A-Long application will be submitted to the membership. A two-thirds majority vote of the membership in attendance at the next regular monthly meeting is required for acceptance as a full member.
  2. If the Ride-A-Long is accepted into membership, the applicant begins a period of probation and is eligible to begin training in squad procedure and as an EMT.
  3. If membership is denied, the Ride-A-Long may submit another application no sooner than six (6) months from time of denial. At time of re-application, it will be left to the discretion of the Duty Officers and the Investigating Committee as to whether the application will be accepted, and if accepted, the duration of ride along time, either 30 or 60 days.
  4. The probationary member can expect some additional regulations that will apply to him/her. These will be explained to him/her by the duty officers and will not necessarily be the same for all new members, but will be tailored to the individual and existing conditions. A duty officer can suspend new members for cause and such suspension must be ratified by a majority vote of the duty officers within five (5) days.
  5. The new member will go as 4th or 5th person, and after proper taining may be needed to drive.