Program Guidelines

1. Ride-Along Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

2. Only one Ride-Along request will be permitted every 90 days by an eligible civilian. This time limit may be waived at the discretion of the Program Coordinator for the purpose of students meeting Ride-Along requirements for related education.

3. Ride-Along Participants may ride between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday to Saturday. Ride-Alongs are not conducted on Sundays or holidays. A maximum of 8 hours is permitted for a Ride-Along.

4. Under no circumstances shall a Ride-Along Participant stay overnight at a fire station or enter the sleeping quarters at a fire station.

5. For those participating in a Ride-Along on a fire engine:

• Ride-Along Participants shall act as observers and shall not interfere with any emergency operation and must not become physically or verbally involved in an incident.

• Ride-Along Participants shall not attempt to assist firefighters with any aspect or routine duties or emergency operations.

• Ride-Along Participants must follow the direction of the Officer-on-Duty at all times including, but not limited to while at a fire station, on the apparatus and/or on scene of any incident.

• Unless otherwise directed to by the Officer-on-Duty, Ride-Along Participants shall remain in the apparatus cab to eliminate the impeding of operations functions or creating safety issues for him or herself or the Operations crew.

• At the discretion of the Officer-on-Duty, the Ride-Along Participant may be asked to remain at the fire station if an emergency response call is deemed too dangerous or hazardous to ensure the safety of the Ride-Along Participant.

• The following fire stations will participate in the program: Station 40, Station 44 and Station 45.

6. For those participating in a Ride-Along with an Inspector:

• Ride-Along Participants shall not interfere with any inspection process and must follow the direction of the Inspector or other Life Safety & Fire Prevention personnel at all times, including, but not limited to, while at the Life Safety & Fire Prevention offices, riding in an Inspector vehicle and/or at an inspection.

7. The North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District reserves the right to cancel, terminate, reschedule, or deny participation in the Ride-Along Program at any time for operational, staffing, safety, weather-related, emergency response, or administrative reasons.

8. Participation in the Ride-Along Program does not constitute employment, volunteer status, internship status, or any promise or guarantee of future employment with North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District.

9. Ride-Along Participants acknowledge that participation in the Ride-Along Program may involve riding in emergency response vehicles operating under emergency conditions, including the use of lights and sirens, sudden stops, rapid acceleration, abrupt vehicle movements, and travel to emergency scenes.

10. Ride-Along Participants further acknowledge that they may observe or be exposed to stressful, traumatic, graphic, or emotionally disturbing situations, including but not limited to serious injuries, illnesses, death, fires, vehicle accidents, hazardous conditions, or other emergency incidents.

Dress and Appearance Standards

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the Ride-Along Participant being asked to leave the fire station or Life Safety & Fire Prevention offices, as applicable, and/or the removal of the privilege to participate in a Ride-Along.

1. Ride-Along Participants shall be neat and clean in appearance.

2. Ride-Along Participants shall wear suitable attire, including:

• long pants at waist level, preferably dark blue in color, however, blue jeans without holes or tears are acceptable;
• flat, closed-toe and closed-heel shoes that completely cover the foot; and
• a collared shirt or t-shirt.

3. The following clothing items are prohibited:

• dresses;
• shorts;
• capri pants;
• leggings;
• ripped or torn blue jeans or other pants;
• tank tops;
• garments with offensive messages;
• garments that are excessively loose;
• flip flops, sandals, high heels or other open-toed or open-heeled shoes;
• excessive loose jewelry with the exception of a ring or watch; and
• hats or ball caps.

4. Long hair shall be pulled back and tied so as to not interfere with activities.

Rules of Conduct

1. Firearms and other weapons may be brought onto North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District property but must remain in the Ride-Along Participant’s vehicle.  Ride-Along Participants agree that he or she will not bring firearm(s) or weapon(s) into a North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District building or be carried during the Ride-Along.

2. No alcoholic beverages or drugs are to be brought onto North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District property nor be consumed prior to the ride.

3. Ride-Along Participants shall wear a seat belt as per State law.

4. Cellular phones must be kept in silent mode and safely secured.

5. At no time will Ride-Along Participants be permitted to take pictures, use a video camera or any other audio-visual recording device while at the scene of an incident or inspection.

6. The use of tobacco products is not permitted in any station or vehicle.

7. Ride-Along Participants will be responsible for bringing his or her own meals.

8. Ride-Along Participants are expected to act in a manner that reflects a positive image of the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District.

9. The Officer-on-Duty may terminate the Ride-Along at any time and for any reason to ensure the safety of the Ride-Along Participant or others.

HIPAA & FIPA Guidelines

The North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA), which protect confidential patient and personally identifiable information.

As a participant in the District’s Ride-Along Program, you may observe confidential patient, incident, operational, or emergency response information. All such information shall remain strictly confidential.

Ride-Along Participants shall not discuss, disclose, publish, post, transmit, livestream, record, photograph, or otherwise disseminate any patient information, medical information, incident details, emergency response activities, or other confidential information observed during participation in the Ride-Along Program.

Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information may subject the participant to removal from the Ride-Along Program and civil and/or criminal penalties as provided by law.

If disclosure of information is required for educational purposes or other authorized reasons, prior review and approval by the Fire Chief or authorized designee is required to ensure that no individual or incident can be identified.

Waiver of Liability, Release, Assumption of Risk and Indemnification

In consideration for being permitted to participate in the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District Ride-Along Program and related activities, the undersigned Participant voluntarily agrees as follows:

1. Acknowledgment of Risks

Participant understands and acknowledges that participation in the Ride-Along Program may involve incidental exposure to emergency response environments, including exposure to smoke, hazardous conditions, communicable illnesses, bodily fluids, or other potentially dangerous conditions associated with fire rescue and EMS operations,  including inspections, even when remaining within the apparatus or other designated safe areas. Participant knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with participation in the Ride-Along Program.

2. Release and Waiver

Participant hereby releases, waives, acquits, and forever discharges the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District and its officers, commissioners, employees, agents, representatives, volunteers, successors, and assigns from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, liabilities, damages, costs, expenses, or losses arising out of or relating to participation in the Ride-Along Program, including but not limited to claims for bodily injury, illness, death, property damage, or other loss, including claims arising from the ordinary negligence of the District or its officers, employees, agents, or representatives, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law.

3. Indemnification

Participant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District and its officers, employees, agents, and representatives from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses arising out of the Participant’s actions, conduct, negligence, or participation in the Ride-Along Program.

4. Medical Authorization

In the event of illness, injury, or medical emergency occurring during participation in the Ride-Along Program, Participant authorizes the District and emergency medical personnel to obtain or provide emergency medical treatment deemed reasonably necessary. Participant understands that the District assumes no responsibility for medical expenses incurred as a result of participation in the program.

5. Participant Certification

Participant certifies that he or she is at least eighteen (18) years of age, physically capable of participating in the Ride-Along Program, legally competent to execute this Agreement, and voluntarily enters into this Agreement without coercion or reliance upon any representation not contained herein.