Comments on fire volunteers / fire trucks / emergencies

[FIREMEDIC11]

Hi All,Greetings to everyone!

I would like to get everyones insight on everything about Fire and Rescue particularly here in Manila. Experiences with Fires, Fire Trucks, Fire Emergencies, Fire Fighters and the like.

I am not here to criticize but to get a perspective on how the general public sees us.

Any comments, suggestions, criticisms (Good or bad), praise, clarifications, membership inquiries or anything that has something to do with being a fire volunteer will greatly be appreciated.

I will not try to correct anyone but will address everything to the best of my ability or at least direct you guys to the right person.

I respect all those who have created threads about this and this was not created in such a way to counter those threads (With respect to those who have reated a thread about this).

Again, my goal is to just basically clarify what goes through the mind of public particularly the motoring public.

Keep Safe Everyone

[impulzz]

hope this helps.

my fiancee started her med internship at a gov't. hospital. from time to time they would evac high risk patients to other hospitals for better treatment. she tells me that private vehicles usually give way specially those with nice cars. PUV's usually don't care and just drive along as if they don't even hear a siren.

there was even an instance when a besta van tried racing with them, so the ambulance driver got on the PA system and scolded the driver.

well my guess is that people have already gotten p!ssed off with the abuses with the use of the siren, so they just think.... "ah anak o asawa lang ni congressman yan manonood ng sine o mag cr na".

even scooters now have sirens.

the problem is how to implement the law on the use of sirens.

till then firefighters, ambulances will have to bear the consequences of those who abuse the siren.

[shadow]

hope this helps.

my fiance started her med internship at a gov't. hospital. from time to time they would evac high risk patients to other hospitals for better treatment. she tells me that private vehicles usually give way specially those with nice cars. PUV's usually don't care and just drive along as if they don't even hear a siren.

there was even an instance when a besta van tried racing with them, so the ambulance driver got on the PA system and scolded the driver.

well my guess is that people have already gotten p!ssed off with the abuses with the use of the siren, so they just think.... "ah anak o asawa lang ni congressman yan manonood ng sine o mag cr na".

even scooters now have sirens.

the problem is how to implement the law on the use of sirens.

till then firefighters, ambulances will have to bear the consequences of those who abuse the siren.

iba ang perspective ng tao between ambulance and firetrucks.

sa ambulance people will still think na wala talagang emergency gusto lang mauna sa traffic but for firetrucks IMO most of the time if not always people will give way..we don't usually see firetrucks naman na nag wang-wang para lang mauna sa traffic most of the time meron talagang sunog na pupuntahan.

I can say fire volunteers are doing a good job. I mean mas maganda pa gamit niyo sa BFP yata eh...hehehe

[huggybear]

^^ +1
I always give way to firetrucks.
- May nasusunog naman talaga
- Nakaka-intimidate kasi ang lakas ng siren
- Mahirap na baka masagi ka ng isang heavy and fast-moving vehicle

(Wag lng sana gamitin na pang-water cannon)

[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.

[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.

[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?

[OTEP]

I used to be Aeromed Makati Med but I'm with UST now. I still ride with them from time to time (when they need my services) but I'm applying as a volunteer EMS in a volunteer group. Just working on my schedule and other logistics po.

[vinj]

I have respect for real fire volunteers (and not those loonies we see running around pretending to be one just so they can get ahead of traffic) as what they have been doing is a real community service that saves lives and property. But still, I long to see our government really improve in beefing up the equipment, training and salaries of the Bureau of Fire Protection (tama ba?) so as that one day citizens do not really need to rely on our own ranks to fill in the void. Parang NAMFREL, they're trying to help guard the electoral process but they long for the day that there is no need for their efforts anymore (meaning our elections are indeed clean and honest).

[gillian]

firemedic 11,

question lang po,how can I join and be a volunteer in my community.i'm from bacoor cavite.second question, is it true that fire truck/fire volunteer responding to the fire scene or emergency are not responsible to any damage to a car/person if ever have an accident occur? thanks in advance.

[tercyu]

Medyo OT pero hanga ako sa Ube fire volunteers sa Binondo. They're the one's sponsored/ run by Eng Bee Tin. Ang ganda ng mga equipments nila and Very prompt in responding. Minsan may sunog dito sa Makati at nauna pa sila dumating kesa sa mga fire departments na malalapit dito.

[FIREMEDIC11]

firemedic 11,

question lang po,how can I join and be a volunteer in my community.i'm from bacoor cavite.second question, is it true that fire truck/fire volunteer responding to the fire scene or emergency are not responsible to any damage to a car/person if ever have an accident occur? thanks in advance.

hi,

apologize for the late response. there are a couple of volunteer groups near your area like the ones in pasay. i'm not sure thought how the application process goes as it varies from one department to another.

about your question, I really wouldnt say that we are immune to prosecution in case of accidents when responding to a fire. We are just like ordinary citizens, we dont have special access or immunities to the rules of the road. what we have are special abilities to help others. on runs we, our trucks, us volunteers are very much responsible just like everyone else. our department had an accident once while on our way to a big fire, we aborted our response instead of fleeing the scene. but, there are some instances though that we need to do things drastically.

[kishAn]

hi,

apologize for the late response. there are a couple of volunteer groups near your area like the ones in pasay. i'm not sure thought how the application process goes as it varies from one department to another.

about your question, I really wouldnt say that we are immune to prosecution in case of accidents when responding to a fire. We are just like ordinary citizens, we dont have special access or immunities to the rules of the road. what we have are special abilities to help others. on runs we, our trucks, us volunteers are very much responsible just like everyone else. our department had an accident once while on our way to a big fire, we aborted our response instead of fleeing the scene. but, there are some instances though that we need to do things drastically.

my hats off to you guys. especially to new village (bagong baryo in tagalog) of caloocan. kudos