The quiet life of an ambulance driver

(Baonghean)Every ambulance that travels down the road carries within it a patient locked in a life-or-death battle. Inside, along with the doctors, nurses, and the driver, everyone is under immense stress and pressure in this fight to save the patient's life.

Upon entering the ambulance driving profession, the first thing any driver must learn is to memorize the routes. From finding the patient's address to choosing the shortest and least congested route to transport the patient, the driver must know every road, because every minute of delay reduces the patient's chances of survival.

Next, any driver needs to get used to the sound emanating from the blue and red sirens of ambulances. The deafening, chilling sound of ambulance sirens sends shivers down the spines of listeners and passersby. However, for ambulance drivers, it is a companion, a powerful assistant in their work. Finally, they must get used to the heaviest pressure of all: the pressure of "speed." Every driving profession has its own pressures, but the pressure of an ambulance driver is "speed."



The ambulance arrived at the scene promptly.

Typically, after receiving a call about a patient needing emergency care, drivers must immediately grab the steering wheel and rush to the scene within 2 to 5 minutes, as quickly as possible. Mr. Nguyen Trung Thong, Team Leader of the Emergency Transport Team at 115 General Hospital, stated: “Our mission is to get patients to treatment as quickly as possible to contribute to saving lives, but doing so quickly and safely is not easy. Being reckless and rushing can easily lead to accidents, causing harm to ourselves and others.”

In the hospital, a patient's life depends on the medical team. However, while on the road, a patient's life depends significantly on the ambulance driver; getting to the hospital quickly, even just a minute, can save a life. Despite the use of emergency lights and sirens, ambulances are not given maximum priority on the road. Many road users refuse to yield to ambulance sirens, and some young people even block the ambulance's path. Situations where road users deliberately cut into the emergency lane or make sudden turns by those who disregard traffic laws are not uncommon. Facing sudden acceleration, braking sharply, skidding, or using all their might to swerve to avoid accidents are daily occurrences for ambulance drivers, especially during rush hour.

Driving patients to hospitals within the province is already stressful, but the pressure on drivers tasked with transporting patients from provincial hospitals to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for treatment is even greater. Traveling hundreds of kilometers, drivers have virtually no time to rest, often eating hastily and minimizing daily activities if the patient's condition worsens; eating bread for meals is commonplace. Stress and fatigue from sleepless nights and long journeys are unavoidable, but they must remain alert to reach their destination safely and as quickly as possible.

The job of an ambulance driver has no concept of time, no days off or breaks. Their phones are always on 24/7, even at night they're kept right next to their heads so they can jump up at the first sound. Regardless of the time, holidays, rain or shine, day or night, they must always be ready to respond to a call and immediately head out. Celebrating New Year's Eve and Tet (Lunar New Year) with colleagues, medical staff, and patients' families in the ambulance is not uncommon for ambulance drivers. Mr. Thong said: "This job demands dedication and a high sense of responsibility, as it requires great endurance. Many drivers even put their family life aside to fulfill their duties. Some only get 3-4 nights of sleep a month, spending the rest of the night on duty. Even when they're scheduled to rest, they're ready to go immediately if there's a call."

Contrary to popular belief, ambulance drivers are not just drivers; they are constantly exposed to blood and patients. This is especially true in traffic accidents. Receiving calls from passersby often means drivers roll up their sleeves to help and carry injured people into the ambulance, and even transporting corpses is not uncommon. Ambulance crews frequently transport decomposing bodies, particularly those who died far from home, victims of crimes, or suicides… requiring truly steely nerves. Beyond skillful driving, the job of an ambulance driver also demands a certain level of medical knowledge. Besides excellent driving skills, the driver's approach varies depending on the patient's condition. For cases involving spinal injuries, fractures, or other serious injuries, the driver must drive smoothly, reduce speed, avoid shock, and minimize pain for the patient. Especially for cases of stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc., we must try to get there as fast as possible because every minute is precious in these conditions; the faster we go, the higher the hope of saving the patient's life and reducing long-term complications.

Mr. Dang Ba Dung, with over 31 years of experience driving an ambulance for the Vietnam-Poland Friendship General Hospital in Nghe An, shared: “The entire ambulance team consists of four of us. During holidays like this, 100% of the team is on duty, working hard day and night, but everyone tries their best to fulfill their duties and is ready to serve patients. It's commonplace for us to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in the ambulance, on the road, or even in the middle of the forest.” In his 31 years in the profession, Mr. Dung has experienced many memorable moments of racing against death. It's normal for patients' families to scold and urge him on; at such times, ambulance drivers must endure, remain calm, maintain control of the steering wheel, and try to persuade the family to stay calm. Mr. Dung recounted: “Once, at 2 AM, I was transporting a deceased patient in the ambulance to a remote mountainous area where the roads were deserted. After arriving, I turned back, and the patient's family was still scared and worried about me, but I still had to go.”

Despite their strong mental fortitude, ambulance drivers are not immune to the emotional struggles of patients. Several members of the ambulance team at the Provincial Friendship General Hospital recounted instances where, after transporting patients home, they found themselves heartbroken to see that even a decent chair wasn't provided for the patients, and they themselves were not well-off enough to offer assistance. There were also many times when transporting impoverished patients, where they didn't hesitate to spend their own money to buy food for the patients' families. For them, these were the most practical ways they could help patients and their families cope with and overcome illness.

No one wants to be idle, but the ambulance drivers I met all shared the same thought: "Sometimes I wish I could go a whole day, a whole month without having to make a single trip. Because every time we have to make a trip, someone is in danger, something we never want to happen." For them, the most valuable reward after each trip isn't the bonus or any other money, but seeing patients receive timely emergency care and overcome danger is the greatest joy.

Hong Quang