Awareness
Before an ER24 ambulance responds to an emergency, paramedics check the vehicle, medical equipment, and communication systems to ensure they’re ready for use.
Here’s what happens before the lights and sirens come on.
The shift starts with a handover
Bongani Ndada, a medic at ER24 Bloemfontein, explains that the incoming crew begins with a handover from the team coming off duty. This includes information about equipment and stock that was used during the previous shift and what has been replaced or still needs attention.
The crew then checks the ambulance for new damage or other issues. Lights and sirens are tested, and the findings are recorded on a log sheet used throughout the 12-hour shift and handed over to the next crew.
Checking the ambulance and its equipment
The inspection covers both the vehicle and the equipment used to provide emergency care.
Paramedics check their personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the vehicle’s tyres, fuel, lights, sirens, and other essential equipment.
Medical equipment and supplies are also checked, including oxygen cylinders, resuscitation equipment, ventilators, suction units, cardiac monitors, AEDs, medical bags and consumables. Trauma and rescue equipment, such as stretchers and spine boards, also need to be ready for use.
“Assumption in emergency medical services creates a failing point,” says Ndada. “Every single equipment check is significant and makes a job easier.”
Why the checks matter
A piece of equipment may appear to be working until it’s properly tested.
Ndada recalls a pre-shift inspection where a bedside monitor appeared functional when switched on. Once the ECG, blood pressure and SpO₂ cables were connected, however, the crew discovered the SpO₂ cable had a loose wire. They also found the monitor’s battery wasn’t holding sufficient charge when disconnected from the vehicle’s inverter.
Because the problem was identified at the base, the monitor could be replaced before the crew responded to a patient.
What happens if something is faulty?
Damaged or missing equipment is reported and replaced before the ambulance is declared operational. The Contact Centre is also notified if the vehicle is unavailable.
This ensures crews don’t respond with essential equipment that’s faulty or unavailable.
They also check that sanitising supplies are available to keep the ambulance clean between calls.
Standardised checks support consistency
Following standardised procedures means crews have a consistent approach to preparing an ambulance. Knowing where equipment is stored and what needs to be checked also helps them work more efficiently when responding to high-pressure situations.
Patient safety starts before the call
For patients, much of this preparation happens out of sight. But identifying potential problems before the ambulance responds is an important part of maintaining readiness.
“Patient safety doesn’t start when the lights and sirens turn on or when we arrive at your doorstep; it begins hours earlier during our pre-shift inspection at base,” says Ndada.
For an emergency crew, being ready means more than having an ambulance available. It means checking that the vehicle, equipment, and communication systems are ready to help and support the patient when they need it most.