Tricks of the Trade

[Dustdevil]

OK, thank you for pointing out just how poorly run your system is.

Exactly.

Now it is all starting to make sense.

[spenac]

More waste of tax payer money another reason we are not looked at as professionals.

[akroeze]

No, I sit at the truck WELL away from the area where I could get shot... still available for other calls.

And I thought as professionals we're not supposed to discrimate against people's sexual preferences

[spenac]

-50 you thought

-100 said we were professionals

Remember we are all only non thinking taxi drivers. You call we pick up and deliver no questions asked.

More ranting later, maybe here, maybe there, maybe everywhere

[CBEMT]

That right there is proof of a failure of the Incident Command at that scene. And those are the guys you think ought to be telling us where to deploy?

Firemonkeys are obviously incapable of deploying their own assets competently. Proof positive that they are certainly not the best people to determine how EMS deploys their assets.

How the hell do you figure that- crystal ball again?

He was alone except for EMS because the rest of the alarm assignment hadn't arrived yet. The engine and ambulance in that district are hosed together- and for once the ambulance wasn't out picking up a drunk.

For a brilliant guy you say some dumb @#$% sometimes.

[CBEMT]

The best place to be as an ambo on scene is in your unit, listening to the radio. You should keep all your equipment safe and sound and stowed away in its regular place. This way they know where to find you and all your tools are where they should be. What happens when a victim is brought out on the backside of the bdlg and carried to your unit when you and your partner are staged far away. You have done no benefit to anyone.

How exactly are you going to miss the guy getting dragged out? EMS is with/nearby the IC, IC can see the building. Doesn't take rocket science.

[JPINFV]

How exactly are you going to miss the guy getting dragged out? EMS is with/nearby the IC, IC can see the building. Doesn't take rocket science.

I guess the devil is in the details.

[CBEMT]

Not really. Very rare that somebody could come out the back of most buildings here and make it to the ambulance without passing the EMS crew- in most cases the first thing they're going to see after exiting the back of the building is a fence. Much more common that they'd come out the back and be forced to carry the victim the the front- where EMS is.

Any other what-ifs you'd care to invent?

[akflightmedic]

Inventing "what ifs" is what every great Incident Commander does. It is the only way to keep people alive as there are no absolutes, except in your area where every building has a fence behind it and every back door rescue will pass an EMS crew. Must be nice to have those certainties in life.

In addition, any IC worth his weight will always have the EMS crew with their truck. That way, everyone knows where the crew is should they need them and the IC doesn't have two worry about two extra bodies potentially being in the way or getting injured on his scene. It's all about accountability.

Let's face it, sh*t happens and no the IC does not see the entire building the entire time. Know of any good firefighter deaths lately? I can name several within the past week. So, even the "professionals" have things go wrong or change on them, so why couldn't a rescue of a victim experience the same? There could be a momentary loss of communication and a FF and victim emerge from a window or a side door. It can and does happen and an IC must anticipate such rarities. However if the men and the IC know that the EMS is ALWAYS with their unit, then that can be an absolute they always rely on.

[AnthonyM83]

Not really. Very rare that somebody could come out the back of most buildings here and make it to the ambulance without passing the EMS crew- in most cases the first thing they're going to see after exiting the back of the building is a fence. Much more common that they'd come out the back and be forced to carry the victim the the front- where EMS is.

Any other what-ifs you'd care to invent?

Maybe not backside, but side of the building might be a common one in apartment complexes, businesses with many entrances. Also, all the fire rigs really block a lot of your view, so you may not be able to see everything clearly. We'll usually stage in the ambulance and if not, we'll leave all equipment inside and stand across the street to watch the fire (not the healthiest, lung-wise) until they get us on the radio that a victim has been pulled out.