Why does a fire truck respond when I called an ambulance for a medical emergency?
Sometimes a fire engine will arrive first because it is the closest emergency equipment to the scene. All Arlington Firefighters are also Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs); while waiting for the ambulance to get to the scene, these EMT’s will render whatever aid is necessary. Along with basic medical equipment, all Arlington and Fairfax fire engines are equipped with automatic defibrillators, a device used to monitor the heart and deliver an electrical charge to correct a life-threatening heart rhythm. Teamwork is an essential part of emergency operations, and all of the personnel on the emergency scene are trained to function as a lifesaving team.
