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- From: garys@teal.csn.org (Gary F. Stevens)
- Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
- Subject: Re: Blue light blues
- Message-ID: <BzMC95.MnJ@csn.org>
- Date: 21 Dec 92 16:53:28 GMT
- References: <1992Dec18.123416.23937@athena.mit.edu>
- Sender: news@csn.org (news)
- Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc.
- Lines: 41
- Nntp-Posting-Host: teal.csn.org
-
- While it is true that some of the persons with lights and siren's on
- POV's drive crazy... I think they drive crazy anyway! We have had people that
- drive our trucks crazy. Thus they are dangerous and no longer with us.
-
- In rural departments, the clock is always ticking... With only four
- minutes to perfuse a brain, seconds count. This is not to say to
- drive like an idiot and risk others but you should have right of way.
-
- In our department we allow red lights and sirens for response to
- structure fires, TA's and ACLS calls. This allows us to travel 10MPH
- over the posted speed. We must stop at all intersections and obey traffic
- rules.
-
- While running HOT, I have made these observations.
-
- 1. Small Kojack lights are hard to see.
-
- 2. 10 MPH over the posted speed with lights and siren going, people
- will pass you. ( major problem )
-
- 3. Intersections, red lights, and stop signs are very dangerous in
- a small POV. Your siren must be 100DB or more with at least two
- settings. (yelp and wail) yelp at intersections....
-
- 4. Police will stop cars running HOT for traffic violations.
-
- 5. The average response time can be cut by two or three minutes.
-
- 6. Those who violate saftey don't run with us anymore.
-
- 7. Lights alone are unsafe.
-
- This is not for every town but it works for us.
-
- NOTE: I also run on the ambulance which is a different organization.
- The ambulance crew can only go code 3 in a POV while out of the city
- limits. (same rules as above)
-
- Gary F. Stevens FF1 / EMT-B-IV
- NETCFPD
- WPAS
-