Ambulance/fire engine

Just heard on the local news that our region (south west) are getting vehicles which are both ambulances and fire engines!
I have this mental image of firemen trying to put fires out while the patients are being rushed off to hospital, firemen being dragged along whilst clutching hoses!
On the other hand the patient being told to hang on while the fire is being put out!

Do you think this will work?

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

Scares me Twiz up here its the same yet this government has slashed funding to the fire service forcing major cuts.

I fear patients will die because of this.

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

Yes, Nom, not sure what would happen if a fire was on one side of town and an accident on the other, worrying!

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

Is it the vehicles that are dual purpose or is it the stations ? I have read where they are combining fire stations and ambulance stations.

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

The vehicles Alan. I'll try to post a link later when I fire up my laptop!

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

I have absolute no objections to a fireman giving me the kiss of life..or tearing my jumper of to see if my heart needs defibbing.

Seriously longs they are trained to do what is neccesssary does it matter what vehicle is used !

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

Well, yes and no. If there's a firefight on- going how are they supposed to take you to hospital?
Also I would imagine a fire engine would be very noisy.

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

Blues and two's plus Fire engines are arriving all the time at hospitals all the time and they usually kill there sirens before entering the grounds having alerted ETA to A & E

All calls would be assessed to see what would be suitable to send out to an incident or if it needed all services. They can always call in to update if necessary once there.

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

I meant if you are being treated in an ambulance / fire engine whilst the pumps are going.
If it arrives at a fire with casualties which does it attend to? If both it could be complicated.

Re: Ambulance/fire engine

Once the incident had been called in the casualty count would have been roughly given and the appropriate number of staff would be sent to deal with any given situation. Some would man the pumps whilst others would deal with the casualties.