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Ride-Along Program Standard Operating Guide (SOG)

Purpose of the Ride-Along Program

  1. To provide the citizens, firefighters, medical professionals and rescue squad personnel of the region an opportunity to observe in a controlled environment the delivery of emergency medical care and rescue operations.
  2. As a tool for recruitment of future members.

Eligibility

  1. Private citizens with no medical background.
  2. Fire/Rescue personnel from the surrounding areas.
  3. Medical professionals.
  4. All observers must be at least 16 years old and have no criminal history.
  5. The crew has the right to refuse any and all Ride-Along applicants.

General Details

  1. All ride-a-long participants shall complete orientation and sign a liability waiver before being allowed to participate.
  2. All ride-a-long participants must be approved by the Chief or Deputy
    Chief and will be assigned according to staffing needs. An approved
    list of observers will be maintained by the Deputy Chief.
  3. Private citizens are allowed two observational experiences per month. The Chief or Deputy Chief must approve exceptions.
  4. Fire/Rescue personnel are allowed unlimited observer privileges as staffing allows.
  5. Crewmembers take precedence over observers and may be sent on calls in place of the observer.
  6. Observers shall conform to dress code standards as outlined in this SOG.
  7. Observers are not allowed to carry tape recorders or cameras.
  8. Ride-a-longs are allowed on first and second shifts only. No ride-a-longs are allowed on third shift.
  9. Observers will not be allowed to carry weapons of any type while on crew property, unless they are sworn law enforcement officers. All weapons must be concealed at all times.
  10. Observers may not be on crew property within eight (8) hours of consuming alcoholic beverages.

Dress Code

  1. All observers shall wear long pants, a collared shirt and closed toe shoes unless otherwise stated herein. No jeans, shorts, tank tops, logo t-shirts, logo-jackets, logo caps or sweat pants will be permitted. All shirts must be tucked into pants at all times, hair must be neat and no excessive jewelry may be worn.
  2. Members of other fire and rescue organizations are permitted to wear their uniforms so long as the uniform does not include jeans or sweat pants.
  3. Medical student and nurse observers may be permitted to wear “scrubs” if they do not have the dress required in “A” above.
  4. Observers will wear a crew provided identification card.

Ride-Along Procedures

  1. The observer should contact the Deputy Chief (or his assistants) to sign up for duty. An observer must serve a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 8 hours in a 24 hour period.
  2. The observer should arrive at the crew hall and report to the senior person on duty to get their assignment for the shift.
  3. The observer should request and sign the liability waiver before the start of the observation period.
  4. The senior person on duty has the authority to cancel the ride-a-long if the observer does not meet the requirements of this SOG.
  5. The observer will follow any and all directions given to him by the duty crew.
  6. The observer will be riding in the back of the ambulance with the patient and be observing patient care.