How come when you call 911 for an ambulance a fire truck also follows?

Question

And i also belive a police car does too.

To those who say i've just seen it. I've been in many places when there was no worry about a fire and all three came. I know its not just a cowincidence.

Answer 1

A 911 medical call triggers two responces. The ambulance/paramedics and a QRU or quick responce unit from the fire department. This is because the fire truck normally is closer and the fireman on board are usually emt's. Also because they carry specialized equipment for certain rescue situations as well as additional manpower to assist medics in moving a patient or removing doors etc. The ambulance contains Paramedics who are trained in more depth and can handle more critical injuries and illnesses, as well as transport patients.

Answer 2

My department is a fire rescue department, where all personnel are state certified firefighters and also state certified EMT's or Paramedic's. The county gets more bang for their buck. However, it depends on the call type. If it is a simple fall then just the ambulance responds, but if it is cardiac, difficulty breathing, unresponsive or motor vehicle accident then an ambulance and a fire truck responds. If you are having a heart attack then the more trained personnel to help the better. Also we have fire trucks that are equipped with Advanced Life Support equipment so if the ambulance in our zone is on another call and an ambulance has to come from another station that is further away, our fire truck responds and we can initiate care, sometimes life saving care, until the ambulance arrives to transport the patient to the hospital. My crew and I on the fire truck were 10 minutes closer to a cardiac arrest, since the ambulance at my station was on a call, we arrived on scene and began patient care, which CPR was being done, we were able to use our equipment on the fire truck to get a pulse back and the ambulance just had to transport the patient to the hospital. The lady had some medical issues but she got of the hospital and is living her life. That 10 minutes were the difference between life and death.

Answer 3

There are only 6 counties in the United States that have that practice. I live in one of them (Fairfax County) and I am assuming you live in one of the others.

A - one might get there before the other. If two vehicles go to the same place, then one might get there before the other.
B - Fire Fighters are also trained in first/second aid. They can help the ambulance people.
C - if the injured person needs to be rescued from a tight spot, or there is other danger that wasnt mentioned over the phone, the Fire Fighters can take car of that.

Usually a police car will come if it is a legal issue, like if someone got shot.

Answer 4

It is that way because fire trucks and firemen dont just do fires..they are trained in several other areas, and if you see an accident, sometimes they have to get the people out of the situations for the parmedics to help them..also in several accidents, the cars catch fire past the accident...in home situations, if the paramedics dont get there quick enough the firemen can stabilize the victim till they do and several times such as suicide cases where the people have gas going to kill themselves...the fireman make the house safe again for the paramedic to go in...they have found that it has saved several lives with both units there compared to just the ambulance...hope it helps

Answer 5

I have noticed that several times. I have no idea why it is necessary. My neighbor called because her grandmother was having a heart attack, the ambulance showed up, along with a fire truck and a suv with fire department on it, two police cars. All but the ambulance left within fifteen minutes. When you call 911, they ask if you need a ambulance or fire department or police, you say ambulance they send all three. I can only assume it is the dispatch person, who knows.

Answer 6

Firefighters in most jurisdictions within the county provide first response in a medical emergency. Police Officers and Sheriff's Deputies often provide first response as well. There are more fire stations than EMS stations, so they may be much closer and arrive more quickly. Firefighters can provide life-saving intervention (such as CPR), remove the victim from a hazardous environment, dress wounds, and other basic life support until the EMS ambulance arrives. The EMS personnel then perform advanced life support techniques (using drug protocols, intubation, etc.) and transport the patient to the proper facility. Law enforcement, the fire service, and EMS work together as a patient care team, ensuring that you quickly get the life saving and sustaining help you need

Answer 7

Generally during a 911 response call a Firetruck, Police Car, and an ambulance show up.

This is just because it is part of an emergency response team and it is required for most 911 calls such as fire, car accident etc. But in cases such as burglary/medical emergency there is one response. Police/Ambulance.

Answer 8

You are referring to the concept of "Dual Level Response". The Engine Company (the fire engine that also arrives, as opposed to a Ladder Company, with a Ladder truck), carries equipment that the ambulance does not have room for; also, in most communities, firefighters are trained as EMTs up to the EMTP level. The Engine Company may arrive first and initiate CPR/First Aid, or may arrive later and have needed gear that the ambulance does not.
In either case, the extra trained personnel are available as needed.

Answer 9

Yes, usually both respond. Generally emergency personnel are dispatched before very much is known about the emergency. Most firefighters have emergency medical training, and they can usually get there faster than an ambulance. Having police and the fire department respond to an emergency means that they are prepared to respond to almost anything they might find, and they can act quickly when seconds might count.

Answer 10

Pretty sure thats not true..... a police car would do for insurance and an incident report. Its too much cost to send a fire truck every time and they are not as readily avaliable as police cars.
A fire truck may do for car accidents, and major incidents though, this maybe why you have seen it on the road.