Ride-Along Program
American Ambulance is pleased to provide an opportunity to observe prehospital Emergency Medical Services for Fresno and Kings County.
Who can participate?
- Base Hospital Physicians, Residents, and MICNs as required by CCEMSA.
- EMT Students 18 years or older who are currently in an EMT Program that has a Clinical Affiliation Agreement with American Ambulance.
- Guests of employees; employees are permitted to have two guests per year.
How do I schedule a ride-along?
To schedule a ride along, participants are required to complete a Ride‑Along Agreement and Release of Liability waiver. Applicants must upload a valid driver's license or state‑issued photo identification and complete the online rider information section. Once all required documents have been submitted, a representative from American Ambulance will contact the participant to schedule the Ride‑Along.
Please contact the Fresno Headquarters at (559) 443-5959, Monday through Friday, 0800-1630 for questions.
Please Note: The completed Ride-Along Agreement and Release of Liability and copy of your ID must be submitted prior to the ride-along. You will not be allowed to ride-along without submitting these items.
Your role as a ride-along
The ride-along program is an opportunity to observe EMS operations and learn about EMS and the roles of EMS providers; you will not be directly involved in patient care.
You are a guest of American Ambulance and will be taken into the homes of people who have requested our assistance. Even though a caller has requested our assistance, we are still guests and must conduct ourselves accordingly. If your behavior is inappropriate, we will make arrangements to end your shift.
As healthcare professionals we are required to protect the privacy of patients' information. This includes, but is not limited to, name, DOB, address, and medical history. Private health information disclosed in your presence may not be discussed with others outside of your ride-along. It is permissible to discuss general information with the others regarding the patient's condition and the treatment they received.
Ambulance personnel will sign shift documentation forms if required by your program. Copies of Patient Care Reports will not be provided.
Appearance & Dress Code
American Ambulance requires all ride-alongs to be appropriately groomed; clean with no after-shave or perfume, facial hair should be neat and trimmed, and shoulder-length hair should be pulled back in a ponytail or bun.
Base hospital physicians, residents, MICNs (current and in training), and EMT students may wear their program uniform for their ride-along.
If you are a guest of an employee or do not have a program uniform, the following dress code applies:
- Dark blue or black slacks (no jeans, sweatpants, scrubs, or jeggings).
- Flat, closed toed shoes (no sandals, heels, or cowboy boots).
- Work boots and plain tennis shoes or sneakers that are a single neutral color are permissible.
- Single color, collared shirt (no t-shirts).
- Personal items, other than a stethoscope, are not permitted.
Preparing for your shift
We ask that you arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to your shift time.
- Fresno Headquarters – 2911 E. Tulare St. Go to the entrance on the east side of the building that says "Operations/Ride-Alongs". Press the "Ring" button. Someone will come to let you in.
- Kings Headquarters – 910 Garner Ave. Please park at the north end of the parking lot. Enter through the front entrance of the building (south side). If you are riding on a weekend or holiday, please go to the back entrance at the ambulance bay (east side). The door will be locked; knock and someone will let you in.
- Madera Headquarters – 328 S. Madera Ave. Please access the property from W. Dunham Ave. Park on the north side of the property. Access the walkway with the handrail to enter the building.
Please plan accordingly for food and drinks. You are welcome to bring snacks/lunch with you (small coolers/lunch boxes are OK). While crews may be able to stop for food and snacks throughout the shift, there are no guarantees you will be able to eat.
Due to the dynamic and unpredictable nature of our work, you could be sent out of town and/or be held over past your originally scheduled end time. Scheduled shifts are a minimum of 12 hours.
We hope your ride-along experience is educational and informative. Please forward any comments about our service and/or your experience to hr@americanambulance.com.
Ride-Along Agreement &
Release of Liability
This must be completed and provided to American Ambulance with a copy of your ID.
In consideration of allowing me to ride-along on an ambulance, I agree to the following:
- I understand that a ride-along allows me to participate as an observer for an unspecified period of time. The ambulance crew may be dispatched to any location, including those that are considered "dangerous". I further understand that witnessing the condition and disposition of the patients during the ride-along may be disturbing or distressing and I may be exposed to life threatening illnesses.
- I understand the locations the ambulance may visit, including, but not limited to, patient residences, accident scenes, hospitals, patient care facilities, and prisons may carry risks of injury or infection that are either known or unknown to the ambulance crew, but are unavoidable due to the duty of the ambulance crew to respond to the location.
- Assumption of Risk: I am aware of the inherent risks of injury, death, and property damage involved in participating as a Ride-Along Observer, including without limitation risks due to negligent instruction or supervision. I am aware of the risks of injury, death, and property damage that may result from, among other causes, the active or passive negligence of K.W.P.H. Enterprises dba "American Ambulance" and its officers, directors, employees, and agents, (collectively, "released parties"), including without limitation the risk of negligent instruction or supervision. I am voluntarily engaging in Ride-Along Observation with knowledge of the risks of injury, death, property damage, and other risks, and I assume any and all known and unknown risks of injury, death, and property damage that may result from the Ride-Along Observation shift.
- Release of Liability. I hereby release released parties from all liability to me and my principals, employees, agents, representatives, guardians, successors, assigns, heirs, children, and next of kin for all liability, claims, damage, or demands for personal injury, death, or property damage, arising from or related to this agreement or to my participation as a Ride-Along observer, whether the injury, death, or property damage occurs on or off the premises. This release includes, without limitation, any personal injury, death, or property damage caused by the active or passive negligence of any of the released parties. I TAKE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LOSS.
- I agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless K.W.P.H. Enterprises dba, "American Ambulance", its officers, employees and agents against all liability, demands, claims, costs, losses, damages, recoveries, settlements, and expenses incurred by me, known or unknown, directly or indirectly, related to claims, suits, or actions arising from my participation on the ride-along.
- I agree to follow the direction of the ambulance crew members and field supervisors and recognize that failure to do so may result in termination of the ride-along. I agree to abide by all local, state, and federal laws during the ride-along and while on American Ambulance premises.
- I will maintain the confidentiality of all information related to the identity of, treatments to, conditions, complaints, or circumstances of patients (Protected Health Information or "PHI"). I will not use or disclose PHI to third parties and will not attempt to contact patients, their relatives, representatives, or associates based on my knowledge of PHI.
- If I become ill or incapacitated, the ambulance crew may take whatever actions they deem necessary to secure medical treatment (at my expense), including transport to a hospital or other patient care facility.
- This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior communications, understandings, and agreement relating to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written. Any modification to the agreement between the parties must be made in writing.