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		Unit 5		Attend emergencies
					Signs of competence in this unit
						The following information and examples will help people using the competency standard form a picture of desired performance.
						The driver is skilful Drivers who are performing to the standard have the skill to achieve reasonable response times. Their driving performance does not cause any blow-out in response time. They are assertive and accurate drivers, and, importantly, they know their limits. They are not necessarily high-performance drivers or fast drivers. It is more important to them to have finely tuned skid- and risk-avoidance behaviours than to have fast-driving and skid-control skills. Other drivers may be faster drivers but they are not safer drivers. The competent driver is responsive: when things in the environment change, their driving immediately changes. They don't drive fast simply because they have a clear run; their speed drops and their position on the road changes for every event that presents the potential for a crash. For example, they check every side road; at the approach to green lights, they slow as much as necessary to confirm it is safe to negotiate the intersection. Thus, this Unit is always assessed in conjunction with Unit 3 Keep people and vehicles safe. When driving quickly, these drivers' actions appear unhurried. They drive quickly by driving intelligently. Tyres rarely squeal in curves and the ABS is rarely activated. They use the controls and tyre grip efficiently. If the vehicle does edge towards the limits, the driver responds to this feedback and immediately regains a reserve of grip. These drivers have no desire to strain the vehicle because they know that this will result in vehicles being off the road for repair and that it will limit the service patients receive. The driver can transfer learning Drivers who are performing to the standard can transfer what they have learned from responding in one type of vehicle and location to another. However, they treat new vehicles and locations cautiously and take things easy until they have a 'feel' for their new environment. The driver can deal with problems Drivers who are performing to the standard understand the many problems that emergency drivers face. These include getting through heavy traffic, dealing with motorists who don't do the right thing, having to drive while fatigued, jumping from relatively calm situations to anxious situations, and having to drive quickly while reflecting on the treatment they will give a patient. When traffic stops progress at intersections, the driver quickly decides whether to overtake using various alternatives or to stop and wait. They don't end up going around vehicles on the wrong side of the road only to get caught out by the lights changing. When the lights are green and they are on the incorrect side of the road they are highly cautious of vehicles alongside them turning across their path (the most common type of emergency-response crash). Waiting and hanging back doesn't seem to be a problem for these drivers. When they are held up they remain calm; they don't waste their attention on getting angry; they see little value in such a response and have control over their emotions. Consequently, their actions look very planned and deliberate; their driving sends a message to other drivers about what they intend doing. For these ambulance drivers, it is rare that other road users are involved in incidents arising from of the presence of the ambulance. The driver does it in the real world Drivers who are performing to the standard are particular about safety. These people usually say that their first aim is to go home at the end of shift in one piece. Their second aim is to get to the patient quickly. This mindset reflects a psycho-logical shift that most ambulance personnel seem to go through at some stage in their career. Many experienced paramedics talk of the risks they 'used to take' - and the negligible time it saved! Regardless of people's early mind-set, the standard expects their driving to reflect the attitude required by the standard. Thus, they are willing to change their driving if ever a passenger feels unsafe. You can first sense that ambulance personnel meet this standard when you watch their response to the initial call. They don't finish their coffee, slowly wind up the phone conversation they are having and then casually stroll to the vehicle. They move immediately and deliberately to the vehicle and when they get to it, they look organised. They will tell you that this stage of the response can best save time. By the time they are ready to move, their crew has the road atlas out and is working out the initial route to take. Crew and driver communicate well, the crew assisting with updates on traffic movements as appropriate. This style of driving enables the driver and crew to arrive at the patient location mentally and physically able to provide good pre-hospital care.

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