A start-of-shift ambulance check: the chassis, lights and siren, fluids, tires and fuel, then the patient compartment, stretcher and mounts, oxygen with both pressures recorded, suction, the monitor/defibrillator self-test and pads, airway, trauma and burn supplies, the sealed medication box, PPE and communications — ending in an in-service or out-of-service decision with a signature.
Unit and Shift
Which ambulance, which crew, which shift.
Inspection Title
EMS agency or service
Station or post
Unit or call sign
License plate or fleet number
Level of service on this shift — BLS, ALS, Critical care, Non-emergency transport, Other
Shift — Day, Night, 24-hour, Other
Date
Time the check started
Odometer
Checked by
Partner on this shift
Did the last crew leave any open defects or notes on this unit?
What did they report, and is it fixed?
Body and Cab
A slow lap of the truck, then the driver's seat.
Body, bumpers, mirrors and glass with no new damage since the last shift? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Where is the damage, and has it been reported?
Photo of the damage
Every door and outside compartment opens, latches and locks? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Cab clean, uncluttered and free of loose items that could fly in a stop? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Seats, belts, dash and controls undamaged and working? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What is damaged in the cab?
Photo of the cab damage
With the engine running, all dash warning lamps out? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Wipers clear the windshield and the washers reach it? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Protocol reference, maps or navigation, and vehicle paperwork on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Lights, Siren and Warning Devices
Worked with a partner standing outside, or against a reflection.
Headlights work on low and high beam? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Brake lights, tail lights and turn signals work at every corner? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Marker and clearance lights all lit? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Every emergency warning light on the light bar and body flashing? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Which lights are out?
Scene and loading lights on both sides and the rear work? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Siren sounds in every tone, and the air horn works? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Which tone or device failed?
Backup alarm sounds and any rear camera shows a clear picture? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Notes on lights and warning devices
Fluids, Tires and Fuel
What keeps the truck moving for the whole shift.
Engine oil between the marks on the dipstick? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Coolant at the line in the overflow tank? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Washer fluid topped up? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
No fresh drips or puddles under the vehicle where it was parked? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What is leaking, and from where?
Tires inflated, with good tread and no cuts or bulges, including the inner duals? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Lug nuts all present, with no rust streaks from a loose one? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Fuel gauge at the start of the shift — Full, About 3/4, About 1/2, About 1/4, Near empty
Fuel at or above your service's minimum for going in service? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Diesel exhaust fluid above the warning level, where the truck uses it? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Patient Compartment
The back of the ambulance, cabinet by cabinet.
Patient compartment cleaned and disinfected since its last patient? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What still needs cleaning?
Walls, cabinets, seats and floor free of new damage or sharp edges? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Where is the damage?
Photo of damage in the back
Cabinets stocked to your service's par list, with nothing past its expiry date? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Clean sheets, blankets and pillows on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
A general waste bin and a lined red biohazard container in place? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Sharps container secured to its bracket and less than three-quarters full? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Heating, air conditioning and the interior lights work? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Seat belts at the bench and the attendant seat present and latching? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Short items and notes for the patient compartment
Photos of the patient compartment
Stretcher and Mounts
The cot, what holds it in the truck, and the other carrying devices.
Stretcher raises, lowers and rolls smoothly, with the wheel locks holding? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
On a powered stretcher, the battery is charged and a spare is on the charger? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Patient straps, including the over-the-shoulder harness, all present and buckling? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Stretcher mount or fastening system locks the cot solidly, with no cracked or loose parts? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What is wrong with the mount?
Photo of the mount
Stair chair present, clean and working, with its straps? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Backboard or scoop stretcher, straps and head blocks on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Oxygen
The main supply, the portables, and how oxygen reaches the patient.
Main oxygen tank pressure
Main tank above your service's minimum for going in service? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What is the plan — tank change now, or out of service?
Portable cylinder in the airway bag — pressure
Full spare portable cylinders on board
Portable cylinder and spares above your service's minimum? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Every cylinder held upright or flat in a bracket, none loose? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Regulators and flowmeters deliver oxygen with no hissing leak, and wall outlets work? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Adult and child cannulas, non-rebreather masks and nebulizers stocked? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Suction
Onboard and portable suction, tested, not just looked at.
Onboard suction pulls strong vacuum when you block the tubing? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Portable suction charged, and it pulls strong vacuum too? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Clean canisters, tubing and rigid and soft catheters in the right sizes? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Monitor / Defibrillator
The cardiac monitor or AED: charged, tested, and ready to shock.
Monitor on board, clean, mounted and powered on without errors? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Battery fully charged, and a charged spare with it? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Daily self-test or shock test run and passed? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What did the test report, and who was told?
Photo of the self-test result
Adult defibrillation pads sealed and in date, with a spare set? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What is missing or expired?
Earliest pad expiry date
Child pads or an attenuator on board and in date? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Cables, ECG leads, blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeter probe intact? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Printer paper loaded, with a spare roll? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Airway and Breathing
The kit for opening and protecting an airway, by age.
Bag-valve masks for adult, child and infant, sealed or clean? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Oral and nasal airways in a full range of sizes, with lubricant? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Airway or jump bag stocked to your par list and sealed? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Does this unit carry advanced airway or ventilation equipment?
Supraglottic airways or intubation kit complete, with the scope or laryngoscope lighting? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
End-tidal CO2 detection on board and working? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
CPAP unit on board, clean and working? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Transport ventilator clean, charged and passed its check? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Trauma and Burn Supplies
Bleeding control, immobilization and burns.
Tourniquets, hemostatic gauze and pressure dressings on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Trauma dressings, gauze, tape and occlusive chest seals stocked? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Splints, a traction splint and cervical collars in every size? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Burn sheets or burn dressings and sterile water or saline on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Childbirth kit sealed and in date? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Cold packs, trauma shears and a penlight on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Short trauma or burn supplies
Medication Box
Recorded here; counted where your service says.
Medication box or pouch on board with its seal unbroken? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
What did you find, and who restocked or checked it?
Seal number
Earliest expiry date on the box label
Does this unit carry controlled substances?
Count and document controlled substances in your service's own log, following your medical director's procedure. Do not record drug counts on this form.
Controlled substance check completed and signed per your service's procedure? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Witnessed by
PPE, Infection Control and Scene Safety
What protects the crew, on the patient and at the roadside.
Exam gloves in every size the crew wears? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Fit-tested respirators, surgical masks, eye protection and gowns on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and a body-fluid spill kit on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
High-visibility vests, helmets and heavy gloves for each crew member? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Flashlights work, and road flares or triangles and a window punch are on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Fire extinguishers mounted, charged and inspected this month? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Communications
Can the crew reach dispatch and the hospital?
Vehicle radio checked with dispatch? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Portable radios charged, with spare batteries? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Mobile data terminal or tablet logged in and the patient-care reporting app opening? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Unit phone charged and its charger on board? — Ready, Not ready, N/A
Decision and Sign-Off
In service or out, who knows, and what happens next.
Unit status after this check — In service, In service — minor items reported, Out of service
Why it is out of service
Supervisor or dispatcher notified
Time notified
Replacement unit, if one was assigned
Corrective actions
What has to be done
Where, or which item
How soon — Before the next call, This shift, Within 24 hours, At the next fleet service
Who will do it (a named person)
Due by
Date completed
Photo
Checked by — signature
Partner — signature
Supervisor reviewing — name
Supervisor — signature
Transport & Equipment
Ambulance Inspection
A start-of-shift ambulance check: the chassis, lights and siren, fluids, tires and fuel, then the patient compartment, stretcher and mounts, oxygen with both pressures recorded, suction, the monitor/defibrillator self-test and pads, airway, trauma and burn supplies, the sealed medication box, PPE and communications — ending in an in-service or out-of-service decision with a signature.
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An ambulance inspection is the check a crew makes at the start of every shift, before telling dispatch the unit is available: the truck itself, the warning lights and siren, then the patient compartment and every piece of equipment someone's life may depend on in the next twelve hours. This checklist walks it in the order you move around the rig, records oxygen pressures as numbers, keeps a photo of the monitor's self-test, and ends with the one decision the check exists to make — in service or out. Fill it in here and download a PDF without an account, or speak while you walk, and the document writes itself.
Why the check happens every shift
An ambulance is shared. The crew going off last night may have used the last adult pads, swapped a cylinder that was nearly empty, or noticed the rear scene light flickering and meant to report it. None of that is visible from the driver's seat. A start-of-shift check is how the new crew finds out before a patient does.
It also gives the service a dated record. If a monitor fails on a call, the first question will be whether it passed its self-test that morning and who checked it. A signed sheet with a photo of the test strip answers that in a way a memory never can.
Truck first, then the box
Start outside while the engine is cold: walk around for new damage, look under the vehicle for drips, check fluids and tires. Then start it, and with a partner work every exterior light, the emergency lighting and each siren tone. Only then climb into the patient compartment and go cabinet by cabinet.
That order matters because a truck problem — a soft tire, a dead light bar — takes the unit out of service no matter how well stocked the back is, and it is the kind of fault the fleet shop needs to hear about early in the shift, not at the end.
Numbers where numbers matter
Oxygen is the clearest case. "Main O2 OK" tells the next crew nothing; "1,450 psi" tells them how many hours of high-flow they have before they need to change the tank. This form asks for the main tank and the portable cylinders as pressures, and for the earliest expiry date on the pads and the medication box, so a supervisor can see what will run out before it does.
The monitor/defibrillator self-test is recorded with a photo of the printed strip or the screen. That photo is often the single most useful thing on the whole sheet.
Medications and controlled substances
This form records that the medication box or pouch is present, that its seal is intact, the seal number, and the earliest expiry date inside. If your unit carries controlled substances, it records that the count was done the way your service requires and who witnessed it — it does not replace your controlled-substance log, and it should not hold drug counts. Follow your medical director's and your state's procedure for that.
Out of service is an answer, not a failure
The last section asks for a decision. In service means the unit is ready. In service with minor items means it is safe to run, and the items are reported with an owner and a date. Out of service means it does not take calls until the fault is fixed, and the form asks who you told and when. Crews sometimes hesitate to take a truck down; a clear place to record the reason makes that easier.
Common questions
How often should an ambulance be inspected?
At the start of every shift, by the crew taking it over, and again after any call that used a lot of equipment. Many services add a deeper weekly check and a periodic fleet service on top. State EMS rules and your service's policy set the minimum.
What should a daily ambulance checklist include?
The vehicle (body, lights, warning devices, fluids, tires, fuel), the patient compartment and stretcher, oxygen and suction, the monitor/defibrillator, airway equipment, trauma and burn supplies, medications, PPE and infection control, and radios — plus a signature and an in-service decision.
Can I add my own equipment list?
Yes. Each kit has a "stocked to your par list" check because par levels differ between services and states. Copy the template and add the items your protocols require, or note shortages in the section notes.
Does this form handle controlled substance counts?
It records that the count happened, according to your service's procedure, and who witnessed it. The count itself belongs in your service's controlled-substance record, not on a shared vehicle checklist.
What happens to items marked Not ready?
Each one appears in the report's summary of findings, with the oxygen, monitor/defibrillator, stretcher mount and warning devices marked as safety findings. The corrective-actions list at the end gives each one an owner and a due date.