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Daily Technical Vehicle Inspection for EMS/ALS Units | zachranarjecool.eu

Series: VZ-TECH · VZ-TECH-01

Daily Technical Vehicle Inspection —
what the driver must check before a shift

An emergency medical service vehicle is not just a means of transport. It’s a mobile intensive care unit. Its technical fitness directly affects the safety of the patient, the crew, and other road users.

Martin Semanco, EMT-P ◦ Paramedic, RZP Leopoldov ◦ Series: VZ-TECH · Part 1 ◦ Category: Vehicle Technical Practice

A daily technical inspection isn’t bureaucratic formality — it’s the first line of protection for the crew and the patient. A driver who starts a shift without systematically checking the vehicle takes on responsibility for risks that could have been detected back at the station.

Why the daily inspection is the driver’s duty

Act No. 8/2009 Coll. on Road Traffic, in § 4(1)(a), obligates every driver to use for driving only a vehicle that can be operated in road traffic. This duty isn’t limited to a formally valid roadworthiness certificate — it covers the vehicle’s actual technical condition at that moment. A driver who sets out with a vehicle whose defect they knew or should have known about is breaching the law — and bears responsibility for the consequences.

For EMS vehicles, this duty is further specified by Decree of the Slovak Ministry of Health No. 10548/2009-OL, which defines the minimum requirements for the material-technical equipment of ambulances. Equipment that isn’t functional isn’t equipment — the ambulance doesn’t meet operating conditions.

Who is responsible for the vehicle’s technical condition

Responsibility for the vehicle’s technical condition lies with the vehicle operator (§ 6 of Act No. 8/2009 Coll.) — that is, the EMS provider. Responsibility for whether the vehicle can be safely used at that moment lies with the driver who takes it over for duty. These responsibilities don’t overlap — they complement each other.

Five areas of the daily inspection — what and why

The daily inspection of an EMS/ALS vehicle can be systematically divided into five areas. Each carries a different type of risk — from immediate danger to driving safety through to the functionality of medical equipment during a call.

1. Vehicle exterior

An exterior walk-around catches damage from the previous shift, lighting problems, and tire condition. Most of these defects are visible in daylight within two minutes — and some of them directly prohibit the call from being taken.

Exterior — checklist VZ-02 / A

Lighting and signaling

Blue warning light — functional, secured, undamaged housing ! A non-functional blue light means priority driving is not possible

Siren — functional, all tones (HI-LO, WAIL, YELP) ! A non-functional siren means priority driving is not possible

Front and rear headlights, position lights, turn signals Verify functionality both visually and by switching them on before the call

Brake lights — verify with a co-worker or reflection off a wall

Reverse lights, fog lights (if fitted)

Tires and undercarriage

Tire pressure — visual check (a significant drop is visible) ! An underinflated tire reduces control at high speed

Tread depth — minimum 1.6 mm (legal limit), 3 mm+ recommended for safe driving

Sidewall damage, bulges, cuts

Spare tire — presence and visual condition check (if external)

Bodywork and markings

Bodywork damage from the previous shift — document and report New damage with no record becomes the incoming crew’s responsibility

“Emergency Medical Service” markings — legible, undamaged (Decree of the Slovak MoH No. 10548/2009-OL)

Reflective striping — intact, visible

Doors and locks — all doors open and close, locks functional

2. Engine compartment and operating fluids

EMS vehicles are driven intensively, often in demanding conditions. Fluid levels should be checked at least at the start of every long shift, ideally at every handover. The engine compartment can reveal leaks before they manifest while driving.

Engine compartment — checklist VZ-02 / B

Fluids

Engine oil level — between MIN and MAX on the dipstick ! Below MIN = report immediately, no call without topping up

Coolant level — at least at the MIN mark on the reservoir ! Insufficient coolant = risk of engine overheating during a long call

Windshield washer fluid — top up if low Non-functional washers = a defect under § 4 of Act No. 8/2009 Coll.

Brake fluid level — visual check of the reservoir in the engine compartment

Fuel level — fill up before the shift per the provider’s instructions

Visual compartment check

Visible fluid leaks under the vehicle or in the engine compartment

Belt and hose condition — visible cracking, fraying, looseness

3. Interior — driver’s cab

Checking the driver’s cab is quick — but neglecting it can lead to a situation where the driver discovers a malfunction during the call itself. That’s a distraction exactly when attention is needed most.

Driver’s cab — checklist VZ-02 / C

Driving safety

Braking system — first brake test after starting the engine (pedal firmness and response) ! A soft or spongy pedal = air in the system or a leak — don’t check this at high speed

Steering — steering wheel play, noticeable deviation while driving straight

Mirrors — adjustment, cleanliness, damage

Driver’s seatbelt — functional buckle, undamaged webbing

Visibility — windshield free of significant cracks in the driver’s field of view

Communication and navigation

Radio — turned on, correct channel, range verified with dispatch ! A non-functional radio must be reported to dispatch before the call

Navigation / MDT terminal — running, current map, functional communication with EMS dispatch

Blue light and siren controls from the cab — functional, accessible

Vehicle documents

Certificate of registration — present in the vehicle

Mandatory contractual liability insurance (green card) — valid, present

Valid roadworthiness certificate — check the date on the windshield sticker

4. Patient compartment — medical equipment

This is an area where the EMS driver works alongside the paramedic (or physician) — but where the driver has a minimum duty to verify that the compartment is secured, equipment is fastened, and access is clear. A detailed check of medical equipment is primarily the paramedic’s responsibility.

Patient compartment — driver’s checklist VZ-02 / D

Securing and safety

Stretcher — locked into the transport system, tie-down straps functional ! An unsecured stretcher becomes a projectile in the patient compartment during emergency braking

Oxygen cylinders — secured in holders, valves closed ! A loose pressurized vessel in a crash is extremely dangerous

Portable bags and cases — secured, not blocking emergency exit doors

Patient compartment area — free of loose items

Oxygen — basic check

Pressure in the reserve O2 cylinders (2 × 10 L) — min. 100 bar before the call Requirement of Decree of the Slovak MoH No. 10548/2009-OL: 2 × 10-liter O2 pressure vessels

Portable O2 cylinders (2 × 2 L) — present, minimum pressure

Pressure regulator, flowmeter, mask — present and functional

Rescue and safety equipment

Portable fire extinguisher — present, seal intact, in its holder

Warning triangle — present and accessible

Reflective vests for the crew — accessible from the driver’s cab

5. Functional test before the first call

After the static inspection comes a brief dynamic test — verifying functionality in motion. Ideally performed while moving out of the parking spot at the station, not on the way to the first call.

Functional test — checklist VZ-02 / E

On starting the engine

Dashboard warning lights — no active warning light (engine, ABS, airbag) ! An active warning light must be documented and reported before the call

Battery charging — alternator light goes off after starting

A/C or heating for the patient compartment — functional Temperature control of the patient compartment directly affects the patient’s condition

While driving

Braking — smooth, no pulling to one side, no pedal vibration

Steering — no unusual vibration or resistance

Noises — no unusual knocking, squeaking, or undercarriage noise

What to do when a defect is found

Every defect has its own severity — not every one prohibits the call from being taken, but every one requires documentation and reporting. The driver isn’t a service technician, but they’re responsible for making sure information about a defect reaches the right place.

Defect category	Examples	Driver’s procedure
Critical Prohibits the call	Non-functional brake lights, a cracked windshield in the field of view, a non-functional blue light or siren, O2 pressure below limit, an engine warning light	Immediately report to the shift supervisor / dispatch. A call with this vehicle is not possible without repair.
Serious Call possible, report immediately	Low oil level (top up), one non-functional turn signal bulb, bodywork damage, low O2 pressure (still above limit), faulty patient compartment A/C	Document in the vehicle defect log, report to the shift supervisor. Take the call with dispatch informed.
Minor Record, repair at the scheduled service	Low washer fluid, a dirty windshield, worn tread (still above limit), a loose minor interior trim piece	Record in the defect log. Top up/repair if within the driver’s means. No restriction on taking the call.

⚠ Documentation protects the driver

Every defect a driver records at the start of a shift protects them from liability for a condition they didn’t create. Every defect they don’t record can become their responsibility — especially if an accident or incident occurs later.

An entry in the vehicle defect log isn’t bureaucracy. It’s evidentiary material.

Handing over the vehicle between shifts

The daily inspection carries special importance when handing over the vehicle between shifts. The driver taking over the vehicle becomes responsible for its condition from the moment they sign the handover protocol. The driver handing over the vehicle is obligated to report all known defects and the state of the equipment.

Recommended handover procedure

Outgoing crew: reports defects found during the shift, fuel status, oxygen cylinder status, and any non-standard situations during the shift (accident, collision, malfunction).

Incoming crew: performs their own check per this checklist — even if the outgoing crew states everything is fine. Responsibility for undetected defects passes to the incoming driver at the moment of handover.

From practice — why checking O2 cylinder mounting is worth it

In hard braking or a collision, an unsecured pressurized cylinder becomes a 5–7 kg projectile with potential kinetic energy many times its weight. Reports documenting paramedic injuries in collisions include injuries caused by loose patient compartment equipment — not just the collision impact itself. Securing O2 cylinders isn’t just a formal requirement of the ministry decree — it’s protection for the crew.

Series: VZ-TECH — Vehicle Technical Practice

VZ-TECH-01 — Daily Technical Vehicle Inspection for EMS/ALS Units (this article)
VZ-TECH-02 — Vehicle Breakdown During a Call — Procedure and Protocol
VZ-TECH-03 — Communicating with Dispatch During a Vehicle Outage

Sources and legislative references

Slovak Act No. 8/2009 Coll. on Road Traffic, § 4(1)(a) — driver’s duty to use only a technically fit vehicle.
Slovak Act No. 8/2009 Coll., § 6 — duties of the vehicle operator.
Decree of the Slovak Ministry of Health No. 10548/2009-OL of March 11, 2009, laying down details on emergency medical services, as amended — Annex 3, material-technical equipment of EMS ambulances (including O2, stretcher, defibrillator, and fire extinguisher requirements).
Slovak Act No. 579/2004 Coll. on Emergency Medical Services and on Amendments to Certain Acts.
Decree of the Slovak Ministry of Health No. 287/2005 Coll., amending Decree No. 741/2004 Coll. — EMS vehicle marking requirements.
National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA). EMS Vehicle Safety and Inspection Practices. 2022. nemsma.org
Bledsoe BE, Porter RS, Cherry RA. Paramedic Care: Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Pearson, 2017. Chapter: EMS Vehicle Operations.

Martin Semanco, EMT-P

Paramedic with more than 15 years of experience in prehospital emergency care, RZP Leopoldov. Administrator and editor of zachranarjecool.eu. Author of the EMS Driver series.

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Daily Technical Vehicle Inspection for EMS/ALS Units

Daily Technical Vehicle Inspection —
what the driver must check before a shift

Why the daily inspection is the driver’s duty