Why Do Fire Engines Respond to Medical Calls?

In addition to fire suppression, the Lehigh Acres Fire Control & Rescue District also provides emergency medical treatment and transport services. All of our firefighters are trained as EMTs, and many are trained paramedics. By staffing a paramedic on each apparatus, we are able to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) services from all of our fire engines and rescue trucks. Advanced life support (ALS) is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend basic life support such as cardiac monitoring, intubation, and administering IV medications. All of our fire engines carry the same ALS equipment that our ambulances do. So, while an engine cannot transport a patient to the hospital, the crew can begin emergency medical services to save a life.
Because we frequently transport patients outside of the District, our engines are often closer to medical emergencies and can arrive on the scene faster than rescue trucks returning from a previous call. Also, because medical emergencies sometimes occur in hazardous environments such as on a busy road or at the scene of a crime, a two-unit response provides for greater level safety of patients, fire department personnel, and bystanders.
When our units are not available due to other calls for service, the next closest fire department or Lee County EMS is dispatched to respond. This closest-unit dispatch practice in Lee County has been in place for years and puts our citizens’ health and safety as our top priority.
So the next time you see a fire engine on the scene of a medical call, rest assured that you are witnessing the responsible use of District resources to provide the highest level of care in the shortest amount of time to all patients in the Lehigh Acres Fire District.

[@emergencyresponsevideosand4423]

1:28 thanks for telling us florida fire photographers why florida ambulances are called “rescues” i was wondering why alot of the smaller anbulances we had were called “rescues”

[@lehighacresfd]

We get questions/comments about that all the time!

[@Don-ls2dy]

Our city does it and it saves many of live's

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

What are times that fire engines are not needed but an ambulance only?

[@lehighacresfd]

Simple injuries or transports.

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

Another question what if a station not only has an engine but they also have a ladder truck and rescue/squad? who would they send to the medical call? It would make sense to send a rescue truck hence the name “rescue”, alongside an ambulance too, if they have one

[@lehighacresfd]

It depends on the nature of the call, the Rescue would definitely respond (for treatment and possible transport) and the squad could respond as well. In the absence of the squad’s availability the engine/truck would go if it’s a call that the rescue crew could need extra hands for.

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

@@lehighacresfdthanks

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

Basically, the people in the ambulance also fight fires? Strange to see an ambulance with a fire hose.

[@lehighacresfd]

Yes, all of our firefighters are also EMTs (emergency medical technicians) or Paramedics (advanced life support care). So they crew on the Rescue (ambulance) can also fight fires, and the crew on the fire truck can provide medical care, just not transport to the hospital.

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

@@lehighacresfd I wonder if these apply to other countries as well in Japan and Singapore they have a combination of a fire pumper and an ambulance.

[@lehighacresfd]

I’m not sure on that, but if it’s a dual purpose truck it’s probably likely!

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

I have a question on this method. I noticed that in other countries, they also send out fire, engine, and ambulance to a medical.
My question is, is this method patented by the fire department across the US?

[@lehighacresfd]

I believe it would depend on the services offered by each department in an area.

[@angrybird72903]

So if a fire engine isn't available in that area would you all send a Tower/Ladder truck or another fire engine? Because my city sends a tower/ladder truck if no fire engine is available for a medical emergency in the area the call is for. Hopefully that makes sense.

[@joshuakosek1410]

Usually in a paid department or a department that covers a city, like you mentioned, all of their personnel will have the same level of medical care, regardless if they're on an engine, Ladder, rescue, etc. Depending on the criteria of the call, they'll send the closest unit, regardless what kind of truck it is.

[@lehighacresfd]

Sorry for the delayed response - we missed this notifcation. All of our apparatus operate as Advanced Life Support vehicles, meaning a firefighter paramedic is on board. So any engine or rescue would be carrying trained professionals for your medical emergency.

[@beckyboyce1]

No

[@jamesfry1369]

And then the guy in blue went and put his red shirt back on.
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE BRING THEIR MEALS WITH THEM. NO BOSS I EVER HAD FLIPPED ME THE KEYS TO SOMEONE ELSE'S $600,000 + (OURS, WE THE PEOPLE) TRUCK AND TOLD ME TO GO FLY FOR DINNER. WHENEVER THERE WAS AN OVERNIGHT SITUATION, WE PACKED OUR GRUB IN.
THAT APPARATUS IS OURS.

[@geoffg8840]

Obviously every dept is different

[@mastercheif1225]

......what?

[@TomManning-cs4el]

They don't my paid union firefighter don't go on medical call 😂😂😂😂 to busy shopping