The quiet life of an ambulance driver

BHG - When it comes to hospitals, many people probably only know about the doctors and nurses who directly examine and treat patients. Few people know about a silent job that supports saving lives: the ambulance drivers who transport patients for emergency care and transfer them to other hospitals…

BHG - When it comes to hospitals, many people probably only know about the doctors and nurses who directly examine and treat patients. Few people know about a silent job that supports saving lives: the ambulance drivers who transport patients for emergency care and transfer them to other hospitals…

One fortunate morning, with no emergency cases or transfers as usual, we met the ambulance drivers of Duc Minh General Hospital in Ha Giang City. Mr. Tran Van Manh, 40 years old, the team leader, led us to see the ambulances on standby, ready for duty. Mr. Manh explained that they are the drivers of a miniature "mobile emergency room," not just ordinary transport, because the ambulances always carry patients requiring urgent care, so they must concentrate intensely and work together seamlessly to save the patients' lives.

Driver Tran Van Manh prepares for an ambulance trip.

Members of the ambulance team at Duc Minh Hospital, 39-year-old Luong Duy Khanh and 37-year-old Nguyen Thai Giang, said that this job requires concentration because they always face many difficulties such as the road system being unfavorable in many places and unpredictable weather conditions. In particular, the team always has personnel on duty day and night at the hospital, ready for any situation. Whether it's winter or summer, there are unexpected tasks in the middle of the night or early morning; sometimes the team members have to get up and perform their duties even while eating a meal. That's the nature of the job, and no one complains.

Driver Luong Duy Khanh said that some trips involve driving through the night to Hanoi , arriving in the early morning after handing over patients. After that, the driver takes a short nap to regain strength before returning to Ha Giang. There was one particularly challenging trip, thousands of kilometers into Lam Dong province, where two drivers had to take turns driving. They strictly adhere to work discipline, absolutely no one consumes alcohol before or during driving; they always ensure that the oxygen tank, electrical system, and cleanliness are maintained, and the fuel tank is full to provide the best possible care for patients.

As ambulance drivers, they often handle transports of critically injured people, teetering between life and death, or horrific injuries that would scare newcomers. Luong Van Khanh shared that, after dealing with many severe cases, they've become accustomed to it and no one is afraid anymore. In fact, drivers even directly assist in carrying patients and corpses. There have been trips transporting bodies back to their hometowns, with the driver alone in the ambulance, traveling to remote areas at night, and then returning alone to Ha Giang city. After doing it so many times, they've gotten used to it; no one is afraid anymore, it's all for the sake of the job.

The ambulances are always kept ready to perform their duties.

Although ambulances have priority, according to the drivers, they never abuse their authority. Each driver prioritizes safety and acts appropriately according to the patient's condition. Only in exceptional emergencies do they turn on their lights and sirens, run red lights, or drive faster. If the patient doesn't need immediate transport, the ambulance drives like a regular vehicle, adhering strictly to traffic safety regulations. Each driver is ready to assist patients, sometimes helping to carry patients up steep hills and slopes for kilometers from the parking area to villages and hamlets.

Driver Tran Van Manh further shared that, in this profession, celebrating New Year's Eve or transporting patients on the first and second days of Tet (Lunar New Year) is normal. Some years, after taking patients back to Hanoi, he would see the New Year's Eve fireworks illuminating the sky. The work is irregular, with shifts from morning to night, but luckily his wife and children are always understanding and supportive, allowing him to do his job well.

It is known that there are currently about 11 ambulances in Ha Giang city, belonging to hospitals and private companies. Of these, Duc Minh General Hospital has 4. Many times when other hospitals lacked ambulances, Duc Minh Hospital was ready to send its staff to assist in rescuing people. During natural disasters such as the one at Ta Mo slope, Yen Dinh, and Bac Me in 2024, Duc Minh Hospital's ambulances were present and on standby to support rescue and relief efforts.

Text and photos: Huy Toán

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/xa-hoi/202505/tham-lang-nghe-lai-xe-cuu-thuong-f587b9c/