FireNet Community
FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Operational => Topic started by: AnthonyB on October 01, 2010, 11:27:44 AM
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This old chestnut raises it's head again.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11444927
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This old chestnut raises it's head again.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11444927
Americanisation.
Seriously though why not, especially for public access to defibs. Every fire service appliance and car should carry a defib and be turned out when required when ambulances are scarse.
By the way both already share premises in part of NI.
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Makes sense to me.
I get the feeling that the Ambo crews don't feel happy about it oh and of course the FBU have a few things to say. ::)
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It would radically affect the fire crews the most if it was done exactly as in the US as they would be on station far far less than they are now as they would have to roll out in a pump to every category A 999 call as first resource.
However I don't think we have anything like the amount of fire crews and pumps for a given area compared to the US so it may not happen exactly as across the pond.
Having read about the woes of the EMS side of FDNY I think it's the Ambo crews who would be the most worried about such a system.
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In practice this could work if done properly. Most other countries in the world have their ambulance and fire service combined.I understand the paramedics being sceptical and that the two services have seperate cultures. But there could be advantages for both fire crews and ambo crews. You could get firecrews to help in busy times (they do this anyway) and help give ambo crews a rest, they could share stations, experience and you might get less false alarms particular when a fire engine turns up to someone simply wanting a lift back home after a heavy night on the lash.
The yanks have firefighter paramedics (their paramedics arent as highly tained as ours though) who depending on the rota may man an ambulance one shift, then man the fire pump on the next. In the UK I would share the costs but wouldnt share the competences, keep paras and EMTs seperate to firefighters but operate them under the same organisation. You cant turn round to existing paramedics and ask them to train as a firefighter and vice versa. But maybe you can with new recuits if the services are combined ?