Why does a fire engine respond on ambulance calls?
All shift personnel are cross-trained as firefighter/paramedics. On those calls that may be life-threatening (for example, chest pains, car accidents, stroke, unconscious patients, etc.), a fire engine is dispatched to provide additional manpower needed to initiate advanced life support treatment. If they are not needed, the fire engine is released from the call. In addition, fire engines carry the same paramedic equipment as an ambulance but, cannot transport patients. In those rare cases where an ambulance is not immediately available, the crew from the fire engine can initiate paramedic services, prior to the arrival of the ambulance on the scene. Q: What does “ISO Class 3” mean on the side of the Fire Departments vehicles? A: Each fire department in the country is evaluated by an independent agency known as the “Insurance Services Organization (ISO)”. This evaluation takes into consideration the departments equipment, staffing levels, communications network, training, and water sup
