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involving ambulances every year (from 1992 to 2011), resulting in an average of 33 deaths each year. The two largest groups of fatality victims are occupants of the other vehicle (63%) and the ambulance passenger (21%), whether that is the patient or the EMS provider.

Many months ago this column discontinued the use of the word “accident,” choosing words like “crash” and collision” instead. That’s because nearly all such incidents are preventable. Rather than being an accident — by definition something that happens by chance and without apparent cause — they are instead nearly always the direct fault of a specific person.

When it comes to ambulance crashes, the fault might be multitasking and distracted driving by the ambulance driver; it could be a lack of training in operating heavy, unwieldy vehicles (see: two Augusta fire trucks overturned within a week back in January).

One thing it should never be, however: any “civilian” driver getting in the way of, or failing to get out of the way of, a vehicle on its way to save lives and prevent crime, injury, or death.

For the record, here’s the relevant Georgia law when an emergency vehicle comes up from behind: “...the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle or law enforcement vehicle has passed.”

It’s not complicated: don’t keep moving; don’t just freeze and stop wherever you happen to be. Pull over to the right and stop.

The sick or injured people waiting for EMS certainly appreciate your consideration. Plus you avoid the $500 ticket you could receive.

We didn’t allow mirrors on the unit, but one day he saw himself reflected in a window. He broke down and cried. That broke our hearts even more.

He did live and was eventually discharged with years of reconstructive surgery in his future. I don’t know what happened to him.

Sad to say, many nurses see extreme cases like this and pray - even though they’re giving their very best effort to save a life - that God will have mercy and call that patient home.