Ambulance vans are depended upon by many. EMTs and paramedics depend on them to safely get them to and from facilities and emergency scenes. People who are sick, injured, and in need of assistance depend on them for safe transport to hospitals, doctors, and other facilities. But these vans can’t take care of themselves. To provide continuous, dependable lifesaving functions, ambulances must be regularly checked monthly, weekly, daily, and more.
Setting up a Maintenance Schedule
A PM (periodic maintenance) schedule should be set up for all ambulance vehicles. A reference as to how to set these up could be an owner’s manual or manufacturer. As an example, you could refer to the manufacturer of your chassis for input as to how to schedule chassis maintenance. For more information, you can visit the manufacturer’s website, review supplied literature, or contact the manufacturer directly.
Exterior And Chassis Checks
At regular intervals, exterior checks and chassis examinations should be executed. To make it easier, we’ve created a little checklist.
Daily checks:
- Look for headlight damage. A rock may have been kicked up without the last driver knowing it. While the light may still work briefly, you have to know, when it’s most inconvenient, that light will eventually fail. In fact, every time you glance at the van when the lights are on, it won’t hurt to make a point of checking to see that all of the lights that should be on, are on.
- Reservoirs for coolant only take a few seconds to check because they are plainly marked and clear to semi clear. Dashboard warning lights may not be set off, even if you’re a quart low. But the heat in both the ambulance module and the cab could be negatively affected.
- Tire air pressure not only has an influence on fuel efficiency but, if neglected, could be a safety consideration. Tires must be properly inflated.
- Checking the oil daily may seem like a lot of trouble but it’s nothing when compared to the price tag on a new engine.
- Doing a daily “walk around” allows you the opportunity to discover something that may have been missed the day before or something that just happened. To avoid damage to someone else’s vehicle, or further damage to your vehicle, look for things that are loose or broken and could fall off during travel.
Weekly checks:
- Tire wear should be even, and tires should be replaced before wear becomes excessive. Uneven wear can be a sign that there are problems with the alignment. Overloading, uneven loading, hitting a curb, or driving through potholes can affect alignment.
- There are a lot of lights on an ambulance, and they should all – each and every one – be checked on a weekly basis.
Note: Some ambulances have air operated horns or suspension. These systems have water drains on the underside of the van or truck. They should be drained daily.
At Mickey Genuine Parts, we have certified service centers located throughout the United States. Our technicians are highly trained, skilled individuals who know the inside and out of a multitude of transport vehicles – vans included. If you’re looking for used trailers, trucks, or vans, Mickey is, once again, a great source. If you have questions or would like to find a more about our service centers, contact us today.