Why We Don’t Run

Like most scenarios or careers played out on television and movies, Fire and EMS in real life do not run into a scene. It is not because we are tired, out of shape, or do not care.

On the contrary, we are taking in small but very important details about the scene. We are trained from day one of our careers in public safety that if our safety is not paramount and we get hurt by rushing, then we can never be of good use to anyone else.

Layered on top of our safety is next the safety and care of our patient(s) and or mitigating the fire before us.

We understand fully the stress, panic, and fear that our patient(s) and family members are experiencing; but if we run head strong into a scene we will miss vital clues that will impede care or increase injuries. I often tell patients, “If you see me running, you’d better start running too.”

Depending on the nature of the call, we are often gathering loads of information. For example on accident scenes: how many patients, is there leaking fuel or evidence of fire, are there volatile emotions from other drivers or bystanders, will we need additional resources to help mitigate the scene.

For scenes involving injuries we need to be cognizant of potential domestic violence or abuse of children or elders. We are methodically cataloging the physical scene, medications, contributing causes, and most importantly, exits.

Should the scene deteriorate due to a patient’s condition or volatile emotions, we’ve established in our minds a way to get out quickly and safely.

On house fires we need to size up the structure and find any potential situations that might keep us from going home. Structure fires present everything from holes in the floor created by arsonists, soft floors created by long burning fires, electrical wires that have fallen across the yard, propane tanks that have been impinged by fire or roofs that are near collapse.

Add to all the above that we are often given very little information to work with. Our dispatchers do their very best with the information they are given to relay to us but often what we are dispatched to is not what we find on the scene.

Know that from the very second we are dispatched to your emergency that we have begun the process of sizing up the potential causes, effects, injuries, resources needed, and proper hospitals for transport…all before we even arrive on scene. Be confidant in your public safety personnel that we are highly trained and have a reason for the timing and process that happens on a scene. We strive daily to serve our county’s citizens when they need us to our highest capacity.

If you have any questions you’ve always wondered about with regards to the Fire/Rescue, please send them to the editor! I’ll be happy to write about it. Stay safe Jasper!