Do you have a strange affinity for strobes and sirens?

[Loonette]

I just now heard about this...

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ ... Crash.html

No doubt it was the fault of the ambulance driver (we are taught to reasonably stop/slow down for intersections), but it's still a horribly sad story.

[storysunfolding]

we are taught to reasonably stop/slow down for intersections

Same here. We're also taught that any accident that happens near us is automatically our fault as our sirens/lights change regular traffic patterns. That may just be in Va though.

[Ninja Geoff]

I just now heard about this...

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/ ... Crash.html

No doubt it was the fault of the ambulance driver (we are taught to reasonably stop/slow down for intersections), but it's still a horribly sad story.

That sucks

I know in MA, you're required to stop at ALL red lights and stop signs, wait for a 3 count, and go if it's clear. If you don't, and a cop sees it, and feels it necisary to ticket you, he's legally able to do so. THOUGH, most of the buses around here are equiped with the same the the cops have to change the traffic lights for them, and most of the lights on the main roads are equiped with the sensor for it.

ALSO, something I though was a little messed up, but I CAN see the logic in it (sort of) is if an ambulance comes across a school bus with IT'S flashing reds and stop sign out. The stop sign HAS to be shut and they HAVE to have their reds off in order to legally pass the bus UNLESS waved through by a cop.

[Texfire]

The majority of firefighters and EMTs killed, year after year, are due to motor vehicle accidents driving to or from an incident. This is old news. The sad thing is we seem ill-equipped or unwilling to change it. Why, because we always done it that way... We have a saying, mostly tounge in cheek, that the fire service is 200 years of tradition, unimpeded by progress.

Sorry, grumpy moment, I hate seeing preventable loss of life.

Tex

[MikeLadner]

27/m 5 (1 reserve, 4 full time) years in law enforcement in South Mississippi.


Riding for 2 months, 2004 Victory Vegas.

[High_Side]

I always have had a lot of admiration for the people willing to do these jobs but have never had any desire to do them myself. The firefighting training that we get from being on the in-plant response team where I work taught me just how little I know. Luckily I have never had to spray water on anything more intense than a propane Christmas tree.

[Ninja Geoff]

Luckily I have never had to spray water on anything more intense than a propane Christmas tree.

okay, i gotta know the story behind this

[Texfire]

Not as interesting as it sounds, sorry.

This video explains it pretty well. Basically a "christmas tree" is a specific arrangement of pipes used to burn propane for firefighting training. It's a common training exercise for new firefighters. The christmas tree is the second half of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIDW-N6LqUE

Tex

[IcyHound]

EMT-B + Firefighter

Job: Dispatcher/911 Calltaker

In 6 months I apply for patrol with the PD that I work for.

Emergency services is tasty.

[Loonette]

Well now I've totally lost my mind. I just started Firefighter I training last week. Class #4 was tonight - The Eliminator! First we practiced getting into our gear within 70 seconds (by the end of the class we have to do this to pass the course). My best time was a shameful 2 minutes. Then, in full gear (including our SCBA), we had to go through a blind obstacle course in teams of up to four people. We did three different courses. Insane!! And we had a high of 88 degrees today - most unpleasant. But really, once the sweat starts rolling, you tend to get used to it.

Only 9 more weeks! Argh!!!... (I really am loving it though. My old worn out body has a different opinion than my brain, but I'm working on that.)

Cheers,
Loonette