Lights/Sirens on Freeways?

[berlinnhemt]

I believe that you should use your lights when responding to any call, not just those on freeways, and the use of sirens on freeways should be up to the drivers discretion and the flow of traffic.

[thbarnes]

My service responds either lights and sirens, or not, there is no in-between. If anything were to happen on the road and you didn't have both lights and sirens on, the driver could be personally liable.

[pmedic623]

Until there is a specific law stating emergency ambulances shall not use warning devices on freeways, do what you have to to get to your call, because that is what it is going to come down to in court.

Agreed.....

[alpha23958]

No siren! Extensive us of the PA, however.

"Attention Drivers: Will the asshole in the red minivan please move to the right. Thank You"

[Asysin2leads]

My service responds either lights and sirens, or not, there is no in-between. If anything were to happen on the road and you didn't have both lights and sirens on, the driver could be personally liable.

Okay, now, I think that is just a silly policy. If its 3 a.m. and there's no traffic on the road, I'd like my lights to be on, but having the sirens on is just silly.

[Timmy]

Why not just have your beacons on and then when someone gets in your way just give them the ‘whoooop’ That normally works...

[Dustdevil]

I believe that you should use your lights when responding to any call, not just those on freeways, and the use of sirens on freeways should be up to the drivers discretion and the flow of traffic.

The longer you spend in EMS, the more you will understand that NOTHING should be left to the "discretion" of 18 year olds with 120 hours of night school.

[Timmy]

Who needs lights n sirens when you have a horn and a 21 year old medic out the window making cow and pig noises at passing motorists…

But seriously does L&S make any difference to the way we treat a patient? Some people seem to think it’s physically impossible to treat a patient if you don’t have the beacons on and you haven’t made a complete moron of yourself and gone out of your way to make a massive, loud and abrupt scene to get to a patient. ‘hey everyone look at me, I have sirens, doesn’t that make me big!!’….

BTW, I’m not bagging out sirens, they have there place.

[SSG G-man]

I MD to be an "emergency vehicle" you have to have lights and sirens on. IF you do not, then you forfeit all benefits and perks of emergenty vehicles. And the driver is now liable for a lot more. (No passing on the shoulder, etc). Here we always go L&S toscene unless it is the middle of the night. We will still have them on main roads, but turn of the siren when we get into neighborhood.

Sarge

[Dustdevil]

We will still have them on main roads, but turn of the siren when we get into neighborhood.

Because, obviously, it is much better to hit a kid in a neighbourhood than to get stuck in freeway traffic. :?