When ambulances crash

Transporting patients to hospitals in a safe manner is a core aspect of paramedic practice within Canada. The majority of these transports are within a ground ambulance on city streets and provincial roadways. There is however an inherent danger associated with the operation of emergency vehicles. In Canada national figures for emergency vehicles collisions are elusive; however both Alberta and British Columbia report annual numbers of approximately 300 (1), and 400 collisions respectively.(2) The USA reports an annual average of motor vehicle collisions involving ambulances via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of approximately 4,500 collisions per year.