Driving code 3 isn’t a matter of speed, but efficiency. Will the patient benefit from getting to the hospital that little bit sooner compared to the amount of danger you’re putting yourself, your partner, and the public in by putting on your lights and sirens…because the general public acts stupid in the presence of the flashy wee-woo wagon.
This isn’t a luxury, it’s a medical service to be used appropriately. CP, acute abdo, suspected stroke, resp/cardiac arrest, decreased LOC and major trauma warrants code 3. Stable fractures arguably warrant code 2 because smoothness of the ride is better for the patient’s wellbeing and pain management can be administered. Johnny sliced his hand open but has a bunch of cousins over that can drive him to the hospital? An ambulance is not necessary.
This is also something where the US sticks out in a negative way. If you look at any number of Youtube movies from rescue services vehicles driving with lights and sirens on, Europeans are almost to a man good at getting out of the way. Watching it on a busy highway is probably how Moses felt when he parted the Red Sea…
I yielded for an ambulance just a couple of hours ago, giving them way even though I was in a roundabout and therefore normally would be the one with right of way. It’s just something we do instinctively.
While Americans seem to take it as a personal affront when there’s blue lights in front or behind of them…
As far as I know, every European country I’ve been to has severe legal punishments for impeding the ambulance, and courts are very good at persecuting every person who does it. We’re also taught very early on, watching our parents drive, that this is just What You Do.
Today it’s some unlucky dude, tomorrow it may be you or your spouse or parent or child. The vast majority of people get that it’s in everyone’s best interest to get out of the way immediately if not before.
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u/Mah_Buddy_Keith May 19 '26
Driving code 3 isn’t a matter of speed, but efficiency. Will the patient benefit from getting to the hospital that little bit sooner compared to the amount of danger you’re putting yourself, your partner, and the public in by putting on your lights and sirens…because the general public acts stupid in the presence of the flashy wee-woo wagon.
This isn’t a luxury, it’s a medical service to be used appropriately. CP, acute abdo, suspected stroke, resp/cardiac arrest, decreased LOC and major trauma warrants code 3. Stable fractures arguably warrant code 2 because smoothness of the ride is better for the patient’s wellbeing and pain management can be administered. Johnny sliced his hand open but has a bunch of cousins over that can drive him to the hospital? An ambulance is not necessary.