Emergency Questions

[999madtom]

Still very stupid drivers- My Dad was driving a military ambulance transporting someone and some driver that has not been paying attention see's the ambulance sign and slams their brakes (No siren, no lights)

[Handsup!]

So the transport isn't code 3?

I would probably panic if i saw an ambulance that isn't regular such as a military ambulance like that. They're pretty big and scary

[Fred03]

So the transport isn't code 3?

I would probably panic if i saw an ambulance that isn't regular such as a military ambulance like that. They're pretty big and scary

Not all transports, no need to floor it on the way to the hospital for something minor, lots of ambulance calls are bull anyway. Some folks see the ambulance as more of a taxi. But yeah, just treat a ambulance without its lights on as just another midsized truck on the road. Not every ambulance on the roads is going to a emergency, some may be going to lunch, transferring a vehicle, going to a PR event or something.

[Handsup!]

No, i agree with the usual ambulance stuff.

But this is most likely a huge land rover in camo

[999madtom]

No, i agree with the usual ambulance stuff.

But this is most likely a huge land rover in camo

Nope it was a small old ambulance. White, Ambulance written on the side, blue lights and a two tone horn (more than a few years ago, when my dad was an MOD driver). But because of cutbacks they completely took the military out of where I live and my dad does not have a job. 

[Handsup!]

Ah the old ambulances that were on the MoD bases? Okay now i understand

[Handsup!]

Sorry for double post but i think it can be forgiven, i have these two questions:

 

What does break+cover mean, and what does it mean when fire/ems 'stages'?

[prmdc]

Sorry for double post but i think it can be forgiven, i have these two questions:

 

What does break+cover mean, and what does it mean when fire/ems 'stages'?

When say a police officer moves from one spot to another making a BREAK and he is COVERED by other officers. STAGE is where EMS/FIRE wait a small distance from a scene till it is secured by the police, i.e. Pt with a weapon.

[theocd]

Hello!
I've just been playing the/an Amsterdam Mod and I've noticed a couple of lighting things that caught my eye and I wondered about:
Firstly, lots of ambulances, some police and some fire units have a small green light that can be turned on. I Googled this and saw that it is used on the first Ambulance Unit attending a Multiple Unit call, is this the same for the Police and Fire, does it demonstrate 'Command'? Also, does Multiple Unit mean Multiple Agencies, e.g. if an Ambulance arrives first at a Fire Call, does he show green until, presumably, he's outranked by a Fire Chief (equivalent)?
Secondly, a lot of Units can show amber lights, I had assumed this was in addition to blue as 'Directional Lights'/'Rear Reds' type things, but most appear to flash in the same housing as the Blues, almost as if the LEDs are dual colour i.e. you can only see one or other at a time, so what do they indicate?
Just a 'wondering

 

The OC-D
 

[met police999]

your first question is what you said I'm sure it was brought up once before and the second question are just hazards it seems ask cops he'll probably know

[AgentSmith6]

Hey all, I apologize if this question has been answered at least once before but I have one for our members in the UK. Does the fire service generally respond to accidents without entrapment but with injuries? It seems from all of the videos and TV shows that I've seen that if there are only minor injuries or if the police get there long before any other services do, that only the ambulance service responds. I suppose it's logical from a fiscal standpoint, it just seems quite different from here, where the fire department (with the exception of places in NY where the ESU handles some accidents and places such as NJ where rescue squads exist) respond to almost all accidents with injuries regardless of entrapment.

[999madtom]

Hey all, I apologize if this question has been answered at least once before but I have one for our members in the UK. Does the fire service generally respond to accidents without entrapment but with injuries? It seems from all of the videos and TV shows that I've seen that if there are only minor injuries or if the police get there long before any other services do, that only the ambulance service responds. I suppose it's logical from a fiscal standpoint, it just seems quite different from here, where the fire department (with the exception of places in NY where the ESU handles some accidents and places such as NJ where rescue squads exist) respond to almost all accidents with injuries regardless of entrapment.

The fire service responds if there is entrappment, risk of fire, need extra hands or the AA/RAC/Green flag/others need special equipment. They also respond if they are the only emergency near by.

[TheCadetForce]

It differs from County, in my county if a RTC is called in. The Fire Service sends 1xEngine, If entrapments are reported a specialist rescue vehicle is sent. If there are 2 or more vehicles involved then the first arriving will normally request another Engine.

[Handsup!]

Hey all, I apologize if this question has been answered at least once before but I have one for our members in the UK. Does the fire service generally respond to accidents without entrapment but with injuries? It seems from all of the videos and TV shows that I've seen that if there are only minor injuries or if the police get there long before any other services do, that only the ambulance service responds. I suppose it's logical from a fiscal standpoint, it just seems quite different from here, where the fire department (with the exception of places in NY where the ESU handles some accidents and places such as NJ where rescue squads exist) respond to almost all accidents with injuries regardless of entrapment.

 

The reason the Fire Departments over the pond respond is because the FD also handles a lot of EMS, not just fire, like you'll often see Engines responding to completely fire-less calls because they're also medical teams.

 

Here in the UK, firefighters know basic first aid and there is no Fire ambulances, only the county NHS service.

[hunter42]

Are the white Grampian fire engines still white? Or did Scottish fire repaint them?

Also do any UK airports use yellow fire engines? I though Gatwick did, but they're red. So maybe they changed them? Or were they always red?

[TheCadetForce]

I believe Airports in Northen Island use Yellow Fire Engines, but in England as far as I know they're red.

[theocd]

As an addendum to Handsup!'s point, a number of Fire Stations are now running Co-Responder schemes that can either dispatch a dedicated vehicle or a Fire Engine to a Medical Call.

There are some yellow ones left. Also, not all of them are red, Newcastle's are purple and white, just go on UKEV and look under 'Airport Fire'

Also, Grampian's White Engines are or have been phased out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21938388

 

EDIT: Link 404's for me, but you can search for a BBC article on it

 

The OC-D

[Ace]

We got yellow firetrucks

 

[Handsup!]

Is anyone here in the Police Cadet schemes of the UK? I've looked into it and while i might be nervous etc it seems right up my street, you get your own uniform and high vis haha!

[theocd]

No, I tried to get onto and was rejected for various reasons, this was a few of years ago. I don't really get what they do, but it looks fun nonetheless, if it appeals, go for it!

 

The OC-D

[met police999]

there's Nome operating in Scotland

[Handsup!]

There's quite a few operating and there is one in Cannock.

[Xplorer4x4]

Hey all, I apologize if this question has been answered at least once before but I have one for our members in the UK. Does the fire service generally respond to accidents without entrapment but with injuries? It seems from all of the videos and TV shows that I've seen that if there are only minor injuries or if the police get there long before any other services do, that only the ambulance service responds. I suppose it's logical from a fiscal standpoint, it just seems quite different from here, where the fire department (with the exception of places in NY where the ESU handles some accidents and places such as NJ where rescue squads exist) respond to almost all accidents with injuries regardless of entrapment.

I think that it is almost standard practice in the US to see Fire respond to MVAs. Maybe not always in an engine though. I was takeing pics out at one of the county volly stations a few years ago when they got an MVA call with no extrication. They sent 4 or 5 guys so sending the rescue unit was out of the question as it is a 2 man cab. Could have sent the engine, could have sent the quint(but really would have been unpractical imo), but they responded code 3 in a Ford F350 Rescue unit(similar to the HES from the LA Mod). In the city though an Engine or a Quint(most stations contain only a single engine or quint) almost always responds to MVAs. If extrication is needed, one of two rescue trucks are dispatched. Ambulance service is handled by AMR both in the city and county(with one exception of part of the county).

[CFDDIVE11]

Here for a MVA we send a engine ambulance and battalion. If entrapment we call for the engine for our second station and then call for ambulances as needed. But yes usually a engine ladder or rescue usually go to MVAs over here.

[ses]

here in Australia it depends if you are in metro or rural (where I live)

metro = ambulance, paramedic, 2 fire engines , rescue, police and a ambulance helicopter if needed.

 

rural = ambulance, paramedic, ambulance helicopter, fire engines from the closest town and if the local fire department does not do rcr then ses rescue and police