Comments on fire volunteers / fire trucks / emergencies

[FIREMEDIC11]

We have more than a dozen of fire volunteer groups within the metro alone. Members of these volunteer fire departments often find it really easy to secure a set of warning lights and sirens being one of the members. Unfortunately, not at all times it is being used for its purpose (in tructh and in fact). The FD that I'm currently a member of condones the use of sirens on our personal vehicles. This is to prevent any kind of abuse that such devices would result to. In fact, we cant even flash our ID's on our windshields, we cant tail a fire truck and we cant respond directly to a fire scene or accident scene using our own vehicles unless additional manpower would really be necessary. For one, personal vehicles would only cause traffic jams because we might end up leaving it anywhere and the obvious reason that our personal rides are NOT fire trucks.

In the case of the gears that we use? When the Government decided to really support its firefighters (RA 9514 New Fire Code of The Philippines) back in 2008, they have been slowly modernizing everything from gears to apparatus that our BFP needs to respond to fires. We volunteers secure our own gears unless we are issued gears that have been donated by an institution or respective directors.

But most certainly, di kami nag didisperse ng tao sa mga rallies. hehehe

[OTEP]

To prevent tailgaters, the company I ride with recently installed high-powered strobe lights on the tailgates/taillamps of the ambulances to blind drivers of vehicles who follow too closely.

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. :D

[boybi]

What can you say naman about the volunteers who install sirens and blinkers in their private vehicles? They use their vehicles to the fire scene and need to use sirens and blinkers so go there quickly. Should this be allowed?

[s_quilicot]

I envy their whelen sirens and nice LED flashers and strobe hid-a-ways.

[OTEP]

May U.S. States (especially the more rural ones) allow P.O.V.'s (privately owned vehicles) of fire/police/EMS personell to be used in responding to calls.

However, there are regulations stipulating the level of equipment that may be installed on POV's (e.g. most prohibit roof mounted light bars). POV's are not just for racing to the scene. Some are used to control traffic to allow other emergency vehicles/apparatus safe passage. Other POV's are used to carry emergency equipment (e.g. a defibrilator/life pak). Some are even used to race human organs to transplant patients.

I wish our local laws would loosen up and also entertain green emergency lamps. They're for doctor's cars in the UK.

[FIREMEDIC11]

May U.S. States (especially the more rural ones) allow P.O.V.'s (privately owned vehicles) of fire/police/EMS personell to be used in responding to calls.

However, there are regulations stipulating the level of equipment that may be installed on POV's (e.g. most prohibit roof mounted light bars). POV's are not just for racing to the scene. Some are used to control traffic to allow other emergency vehicles/apparatus safe passage. Other POV's are used to carry emergency equipment (e.g. a defibrilator/life pak). Some are even used to race human organs to transplant patients.

I wish our local laws would loosen up and also entertain green emergency lamps. They're for doctor's cars in the UK.

I wish we have the same rules as those countries. but then again, dapat implementation and prohibitions must strictly be enforced.

[OTEP]

Visual warning systems (light bars, strobes, wig-wags, etc.) are not just used to allow for emergency vehicles' safe passage through traffic but these systems are also an added safety feature once at the scene of the incident.

When responding to a roadside emergency, we usually place the emergency vehicle (fully marked or P.O.V.) behind our backs so that there will be an additional barrier between the responding team and the flow of traffic. If space allows, the vehicle is placed broadside (perpendicular to the flow of traffic) to widen the shielded area. Leaving all emergency lights on for maximum visibility.

Come to think of it, I think we need more side facing lights (e.g. alley lights) and scene lights on some of the units we use.

[FIREMEDIC11]

Visual warning systems (light bars, strobes, wig-wags, etc.) are not just used to allow for emergency vehicles' safe passage through traffic but these systems are also an added safety feature once at the scene of the incident.

When responding to a roadside emergency, we usually place the emergency vehicle (fully marked or P.O.V.) behind our backs so that there will be an additional barrier between the responding team and the flow of traffic. If space allows, the vehicle is placed broadside (perpendicular to the flow of traffic) to widen the shielded area. Leaving all emergency lights on for maximum visibility.

Come to think of it, I think we need more side facing lights (e.g. alley lights) and scene lights on some of the units we use.

Exactly, these things aren't for use to signify authority on the road. That's the main reason why these lights are either rotating, flashing or blinking so it would be very much visible from oncoming traffic.

Sir Otep, you with AEROMED?

[dadz]

just to share my experience im also a volunteer way back when im still young heheheheheheh one time we responded sa isang fire alert sa mandaluyong shaw, while our truck is in motion a stupid car followed as to close as in close so noong lumagpas sa kanto at kailagan umatras nag truck, wala nag nagawa yung car kung hindi masalpok namin sa likod ang masama nito hinabol kami nag me ari nag car at bigla na lang kaming tinutukan heheheheheheheh buti na lang yung ibang group na naka civilian car na nag responce e me kasamang off duty na police, kami ang sinisisi hit and run daw. ang tanga hindi ata marunong bumasa me naka lagay na keep away 50 feet hehehehehehehe.

the stupidity of people that follow emergency vehicle just to skip a few kilometers of traffic.

[FIREMEDIC11]

What can you say naman about the volunteers who install sirens and blinkers in their private vehicles? They use their vehicles to the fire scene and need to use sirens and blinkers so go there quickly. Should this be allowed?

To be honest, sa dami ng fire volunteers ngayon? i no longer find the need na maglagay ng lights and siren sa kotse. at one point meron akong federal signal na siren installed a kotse ko together with strobe hideaway kits. Pero tinangal ko na din kasi ala naman nang use eh.