why are the # of hours a trucker drives monitored so closely, but the # of hours a paramedic is at work not?

Question

Correct me if i'm wrong, but Truckers (whom i have the utmost respect for, by the way--love ya uncle kenny) can only drive 10 hours straight before having to stop for sleep. Why then can Paramedics and EMTs work 24, sometimes as much as 48 hours in a row, oftentimes with no sleep, and no one bats an eye? i know i wouldn't feel comfortable having my husband show up at my doorstep to work on me at the end of one of his marathon shifts if i needed serious help. does no one care, or are they just that understaffed that they have to look the other way? he worked 36 hours straight yesterday, called to tell me he might have to stay for another 12, (but luckily, they found someone to come in and cover the last half of the shift last night) then turned around and went back in for another 24 this morning. had they not found someone, he would have been at work 72 hours. and it was the supervisor that was letting him work, or should i say asking him... shouldn't someone do something?

Answer 1

Obviously there has been more legislation on truck drivers than other professions. I am a truck driver myself and appreciate the break after 10 hours of driving (otherwise companies would run us 48+ hours straight). In fact, they used to do such things causing large amounts of accidents across the country. The first question on an accident report at my company is "Start Time" and "Accident Time".

I've also wondered about why this doesn't apply to many other professions. Doctors are a prime example. Early in their careers they endure horrible intern hours and are often getting by on naps in the hospital, yet still making critical life/death decisions for people. Rules of rest are good for every industry for safety reasons....even if it is just that individuals safety.

On the other hand, just because "time off" is regulated doesn't mean that people would use it to actually sleep.

Answer 2

if a store runs out of a certain product that a truck driver is hauling to said store the consumer can simply go to another store to get said product.........if you are having a heart attack and 911 tells u that it will be a 6 hour wait because all the emt personel are over their hours there would be a public outcry that could be heard around the world.........