🚀 go-pugleaf

Jerry Slaughter wrote:
> 
> "J. Porter Clark" <jpc@porterclark.com> wrote in message 
> news:uQ_vi.17$ap7.4@newsfe03.lga...
>> Yesterday, a woman fell down on steps leading out of a church in
>> Fayetteville.  Someone called an ambulance.
>>
>> But a fire truck arrived, followed by the ambulance.  It didn't
>> look like the lady was going to spontaneously ignite, despite
>> the heat, so I asked why a fire truck was called.  The answer
>> that I was given was that they always call a fire truck in
>> addition to the ambulance in these cases now, because the
>> firemen are trained "first responder" paramedics.
>>
>> So, I guess the ambulance personnel aren't?
>>
>> Trying to understand the "All the King's horses" methodology...
>>
>> -- 
> This is how it is done in many places across the country. The basic 
> logic is that the Fire Department units are more widely dispersed and 
> have shorter response times because they are more likely to be 
> responding from their station. Ambulances are busier, fewer units 
> available and will usually have a longer response. You also have the 
> issue of manpower on a scene. Ambulance crews are usually only 2 people, 
> while the fire truck brings at leat 2-3 more. In many cases this is very 
> necessary.
> 
> The first responder/paramedic training is important so that the initial 
> EMT/Firefighter on scene is able to initiate care and then hand care 
> over to the ambulance crew who will ultimately transport the person to 
> the hospital. The firetruck will be released to be available for more 
> calls in that area while the ambulance is transporting.
> 
> Jerry S.

Good answer, and in addition, most cities are dispatching fire wagons to 
all highway car accidents, not only for additional manpower, but to 
standby for any fire or fuel spill, and to use the fire wagon itself to 
block traffic, protecting the emergency workers on scene. I used to 
wonder why there was a big ladder truck or a snorkel truck at a traffic 
accident, till I figured out that they send out the biggest piece of 
equipment available to block traffic better.

-- 
Wiz

The world is a tragedy to those who feel,
And a comedy to those who think.

	Horace Walpole, *paraphrased*