why is it the # of hours a trucker works monitored, but the #of hours a paramedic is at work is not monitored?

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

I agree with you completely. It's the same for on call Dr's too. They can be on a shift for 12-24-36 hours straight too. I don't think I'd want the Dr who's been uo for 34 hours to do an emergency operation on me. The only reason I can think of is the fact that truckers are driving the entire time causes fatigue, and most people have probably experienced that dozing at the wheel on a long stretch of boring highway. A paramedic will have breaks in the shift when they are not completely focused on a patient, giving them time for a short power nap. The only way to make a change is to contact lawmakers with your concern.

Answer 2

Think about it,how many accidents have happen because of truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel,now how many paramedics......... A truck driver is driving for the straight 10 hours,emts are not driving 3/4 that much.Its not that I don't agree with you but your comparison of the two traits don't go together.
Tell your Husband thank you for doing a honorable job

Answer 3

Simple. Paramedics, and Firefighters can, and do, SLEEP on the job. Most of our time is not spent rushing from emergency to emergency, or no one would be able to do it. Most of our time, and I do mean MOST, is spent training, cleaning equipment, resting, chatting, eating, etc... BTW, we drilled so we could be out of bed, dressed, and in the truck, rolling, in under 60 seconds, so don't think we were unable to respond. (Those poles in the firehouses go to the bedrooms!)

Answer 4

Trucker have no direct supervision and are paid by the mile. This makes it tempting to work to long, with devastating consequences. Paramedics work in team/groups with supervision.