Why must 911 responders always dispatch a fire truck with an ambulance to an emergency call?

Question

Is it the case only in California, or anywhere else?

Answer 1

That's a fair question. I think there may be many reasons depending on where you live.

I am not "up on things" for CA, but I can tell you about my area of the country (Mid-West.)

First, the responding ambulance can sometimes be from a private service. Often, the local fire dept. will have qualified EMT and paramedics available to respond, but may not necessarily have an ambulance handy, so they respond in the fire truck while a private ambulance service is called.

Also, depending on the nature of the call, sometimes it's a good idea to have a few extra sets of hands available. Not everyone may be needed to go on to the hospital in the squad so it makes sense that the "extra help" would return to the station in the fire truck.

The nature of the call might deem necessary to have both vehicles respond due the equipment on the vehicles. Let's just say, for example, the call was for someone overcome by fumes or carbon monoxide. Obviously, the ambulance is needed to transport the patient, the fire truck will have testing equipment, exhaust blowers, etc. Other's mentioned MVA's (Motor Vehicle Accident) as another reason, as the jaws, saws, and spill control equipment is going to be on the fire truck.

And sometimes, the extra vehicle is just that, extra! It may have not been needed at all, but was dispatched just in case. Why take a chance?

I hope that helps answer your question.

Answer 2

That is the norm almost everywhere in the country. There are numerous reasons this happens. As the other poster said, it could be because of a vehicle accident. Obviously the tools on the trucks or engines will be needed to get victims out of the vehicles. The same is true for any type of other non-vehicle accident that involves entrapment.

Additionally, often times the ambulance crew will need the man power from the truck or enigne to assist them in lifting a patient or even helping with medical treatment.

Answer 3

In many cases an emergency call involves a vehicular accident or a rescue which the fire department is equipped to handle. In the case of a traffic accident their is usually a danger of fire from spilled fuel, fire departments carry the jaws of life and are trained in performing many rescue operations.