First Responders

[Tristan]

Who are the first responders where you are? Do you arrive with your ambulance to find the fire guys there, or is it the police that are already on scene?

[Kanga]

The First Responder is as stated "the first on scene", now I am not a qualified EMT yet but it is my understanding that a first responder is either or Fire, BLS, or ALS. A first response can also be considered if you were off duty and stopped to assist (depending on the State you reside in as a qualified EMT it may be illegal not to stop and assist).

Kanga

[Dustdevil]

Geeze... Despite how clearly it was written, it took only one post for Tristan's question to get totally lost.

Who are the first responders where you are? Do you arrive with your ambulance to find the fire guys there, or is it the police that are already on scene?

This is not a theoretical question of the concept of potential first responders, folks. Tristan asked what you see in your area if you work on an ambulance.

[dahlio]

As a vol., the police are trained and are used as first responders. Sometimes we'll have an EMT respond directly to the scene if it's a serious call. The police are actually quite good in my area. No fire guys on medical calls.

[JakeEMTP]

Tristan,

It all depends really on the nature of the call. We usually are the first responders (ALS) to medical calls. If it is a MVC, we usually have to maneuver around pickup trucks with more LED lights than our ambulance to get to the scene . DOA, for some reason, PD always beats us there, which in reality is a good thing because they can wait for the coroner. If it's a fire, the hose monkeys beat us there and rightfully so. We are just stand-by.

So you see, it all depends on the call who is first on scene.

BTW, welcome to Emt City.

[VaREMS1]

It depends on if ECC (Emergency Comm. Center) sends an alert to a particular sectors 1st responders. Officially, the Fire Depts are the first responders. Usually, they respond on an engine, or rescue truck, from the station. They aren't usually toned out for medical calls, unless it's a cardiac, respiratory, or severe trauma call.

In an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident), you're liable to run into a million people once your truck (ambulance) pulls up on the scene. Police/Sheriff deputies, fire apparatus, plus any FF that might have been at home, bored, and felt like coming out on their own, blocking the scene with their POV & it's flashing lights.

[brentoli]

We are on scene first, but we are fire based EMS. (ducks from flying objects)

Any PD call of course they are there first. Any unresponsive/non breather in the county, our sheriff units are also dispatched on, because they all carry AED's in their cars. Sometimes they beat us, sometimes they don't.

[WelshMedic]

Kanga,

I like that Avatar.....

(and now back on-topic...)

WM

[strippel]

Kanga's avatar is identical to a local township seal. They are Cumru.

Anyway, on to first reponders....

In the city, paid FD is dispatched on all calls that sound like they may be a cardiac arrest, so we have manpower. City Police respond on any possible crime related issue, and will try to show up on all calls; when available. Both have AEDs, and are very helpfull.

We cover many townships, and their volunteer fire departments vary. Some have QRS units which respond on all EMS calls. Two are suburban, and have live ins, and like to keep them busy. Others are very rural. Other departments just assist on cardiac arrest calls. Others don't pay attention to EMS.

[WelshMedic]

Kanga's avatar is the Welsh flag, and Cymru is the welsh word for wales

Hence my appreciation of it....

WM