The "Why?" thread

[Wildcard Ky]

Why is it when a pedestrian is hit by a car, they dispatch police, ems and the Fire Department?

 

[Edward Teach]

Why is it when a pedestrian is hit by a car, they dispatch police, ems and the Fire Department?

Sometimes more is needed than the police or emt's can supply. There might be fire, electric wires, gas, people trapped in cars, etc., and it wouldn't be prudent to depend on the person calling in the alarm to decide what was needed, hence the policy to always send a fire truck.

 

[sadangel]

Sometimes more is needed than the police or emt's can supply. There might be fire, electric wires, gas, people trapped in cars, etc., and it wouldn't be prudent to depend on the person calling in the alarm to decide what was needed, hence the policy to always send a fire truck.

This and they never know when they will need the jaws of life to get someone out and the firetruck is the one that carries it. Better to have too many than not enough. (My ex was a volunteer fireman, I learned a lot in helping him study for his EMS test, which the idiot never did take. I could have and passed with flying colors!)

 

[SeaCat]

Wild,

It depends on the system the local dispatch uses.

It used to be only the police were dispatched and then they would call for what they decided needed to be dispatched. That changed when it was realized that time was often of the escence.

Now it is common to dispatch the police for traffic control as well as one rescue and one engine. The engine has the extraction devices as well as additional manpower. (MOst firefighters are rated at least at E.M.T.-A.)

The engine can always be canceled in route by the first person on scene.

The same is often done for medical emergencies because of the increased manpower. (Many departments now dispatch a rescue with just one E.M.T.-A. and one E.M.T.-P on board with the idea that if needed they can pull manpower from the engine.)

Cat

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I saw one while driving home today (that must have happened less than a minute before I got there) that probably needed all three.

 

[sr71plt]

Why is it a stretch to understand that a gasoline-filled car in a wreck might burst in to flames--even belatedly--or to think that the police or EMTs don't specialize in dousing flames?

 

[jomar]

Shouldn't these answers be posted on the "Because" thread?

 

[sr71plt]

Shouldn't these answers be posted on the "Because" thread?

Why?

(Presume we are back on track now. )

 

[jomar]

Why?

(Presume we are back on track now. )

Why, because!

And, by the way, why is there no because thread?

 

[sr71plt]

And, by the way, why is there no because thread?

Because.

 

[DeeZire]

Around here, they dispatch a fire truck for medical emergencies. I just see it as an example of the inefficiency of government services. Or perhaps the fire department is making sure they have no money left over at the end of the year so their funding doesn't get cut.

I would add the question - why don't police cars use their turn signals?

 

[TxRad]

Around here, they dispatch a fire truck for medical emergencies. I just see it as an example of the inefficiency of government services. Or perhaps the fire department is making sure they have no money left over at the end of the year so their funding doesn't get cut.

I would add the question - why don't police cars use their turn signals?

Cop cars have turn signals?

Well, I'll be damned!

 

[Palba_Noruda]

I believe it is state law in several areas for fire trucks to be dispatched anytime an ambulance is called for. Or maybe county law or city ordnance. I know, well, I *heard* it was a law someplace that I lived at one time or another.

 

[Freefall_mc]

Yea, why don't police cars use their turn signals? Hazards work fine from what I've seen.


dispatches can be confusing, depending on rural or suburban settings, zoning,
available resources, which staffed units have specialized equipment...

engines are outfitted quite well these days for the most common emergencies

 

[sr71plt]

My guess is that the same folks who bitched about all three showing up to an accident would bitch if only two of the three showed up and the other one had been needed. The ever-present "hindsight" bitchers.

 

[jomar]

Because.

Why?

(and on and on...)

 

[DesertPirate]

Why?

(and on and on...)

I too juander why?

 

[TE999]

I too juander why?

It does make one juander how these threads go off topic.