We don't have an effective EMS system with the same two firefighters responsible for fire calls and EMS calls.
Monday August 24th around 7:00 PM (times appropriate) there was a call about a car fire. Engine 411 from Dolan headed South on Pierce Ferry Rd from Dolan. The neighbor who called said they could see 3-4' flames.
Monday August 24th around 7:00 PM (times appropriate) there was a call about a car fire. Engine 411 from Dolan headed South on Pierce Ferry Rd from Dolan. The neighbor who called said they could see 3-4' flames.
I was going to the store in town (Dolan) and could see the fire engine heading my way. I pulled over to watch them go by, and was surprised they were only going 46 mph at they passed 9th street. (I buy and sell police radars on eBay)
I know it's a big fire truck, but 46 mph on the way to a fire.
Shortly after the car fire call, dispatch got a heart attack call off 20th st, and paged the LMRFD ambulance. They were told the firefighters were tied up on the car fire, to send BLS (basic life support) from Meadview.
Meadview Rescue 438 was paged, and AMR ambulance from Kingman, and a medical helicopter from Vegas were called.
Wanting to see how the call played out, after the store, I went to the LDS church just out of Dolan to watch.
After Engine 411 told dispatch they couldn't locate the car fire, I thought I would see the fire engine running code (lights and siren) back to Dolan Springs to pick up the ambulance and respond to the heart attack call that was the opposite direction.
Engine 411 slowly drove through town to the fire station, parked their fire truck. Picked up the LMRFD ambulance. On it's way to the heart attack call, it was going 48 MPH when they passed me at the LDS church. Again no lights and siren on a heart attack call?
It sounded like we lucked out this time with the fire and heart attack, but what about next time we have two calls? In both fire response and EMS response, time is either property or life, and seconds matter.
These were serious calls, and in both the emergency vehicles were going slower than the normal traffic. To fast isn't good, but 46-48 mph on emergency calls?
I'd like to see a report with response times on ALL calls. From reading your posts, I understand that every call requires a report and I'm sure that all of that has to be tallied up for various agencies anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe ENTIRE system is so screwed up. What happens when somebody has a heart attack?
Does the 911 operator give instructions? Does an EMT get on the phone with the person to ensure they do whatever can be done until they arrive?
FYI, I'm certain that eating a large amount of cayenne pepper has saved my life when I was about to have a heart attack. Within minutes of eating the cayenne the pain went way down.
Anyway, I've heard that severed body parts are supposed to be stored in milk, but really don't know. When a woman recently cut off her finger, she had it on ice. Apparently nobody told her WHAT to do with the finger and needless to say, it was not reattached.
It took about 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive at MM 26 on Pierce Ferry, they met the helicopter at 93, the helicopter flew to the wrong hospital ....
Since I wasn't there, I'd like to see the report for THAT call. And of course I'd like to see the procedures.
If all who benefited from having a Fire District paid into it, we wouldn't be in the pickle we are in.
ReplyDeleteWhat does people paying their taxes have to do with the speed of an ambulance or fire truck responding to an emergency? Trying to save gas?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf the delinquent taxes were paid and the uncollected ambulance bills were paid, there would be enough $$$$ to fill one more position. That's all. As for speed, there are speed requirements even emergency vehicles must adhere to....check it out.
ReplyDeleteThe reason fire trucks need to get to a fire fast is how fast a fire grows. Watch this video then tell me if they should go the speed limit
Deletehttp://www.stamfordfiretruths.org/2010/06/how-fast-does-a-fire-grow-you-ask/
Here's the Law...
ReplyDelete28-624. Authorized emergency vehicles
A. If an authorized emergency vehicle is driven in response to an emergency call, in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of law or in response to but not on return from a fire alarm, the driver may exercise the privileges provided in this section subject to the conditions stated in this section.
B. If the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle is operating at least one lighted lamp displaying a red or red and blue light or lens visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of the vehicle, the driver may:
1. Notwithstanding this chapter, park or stand.
2. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as necessary for safe operation.
3. Exceed the prima facie speed limits if the driver does not endanger life or property.
4. Disregard laws or rules governing the direction of movement or turning in specified directions.
"Exceed the prima facie speed limits if the driver does not endanger life or property."
ReplyDeleteIf you believe the driver is so bad that he endangered the public driving 46 in a 55 mph zone, please get him out of the drivers seat. Emergency vehicle drivers need to respond in a timely manner.
ReplyDeleteIf normal traffic is passing emergency vehicles in route a heart attack, something is seriously wrong.