question for all firefighters emts leos

ok im a volly firefighter in my town, but if i see a wreck that has just occurred i stop to help until the police, trooper or fire trucks arrive (not chasing calls just finding them) no matter where i am, however lately it has come to bite me in the ass, going throught the city yesterday a lady nailed a tacoma when the light turned red and she didnt see him stop, she had 2 children, me being beehind the lady stopped asked them to pull into the parking lot of a store we were infront of due to bad traffic, made sure all occupants were ok and waited for pd to arrive because i was a 1st responder/witness, and the lady starts yelling at me that shes been in enough wrecks before we dont have to wait for police and that i need to leave before she files a complaint...ok complaint numero1

going down the highway today i notice 3 vehicles in the median with nothing bud hazards on, i slowly approach and notice a lady walking around her vehicle inspecting damage and proceed to slow down, cut on my lights and commence to slow down, then i hear tires screech behind me and a car swerve (ive taken a good 1/8 a mile to slow down (4football feilds length as a unit i know a lil better) i then cut through the median due to not being able to slow down enough because this guy almost rearending me and turn around in the grassy median, as i get out of the vehicle an offduty state trooper commences to yell at me saying i am going to cause a wreck and that i shouldnt stop for something as little as somebody hitting a deer and asks my name my dept and says he will file a formal complaint

i have stopped a wrecks where people were trapped or seriously injured but i never get any praise for this, i only get in trouble for stopping to help so i am considering stopping to help people all together, it upsets me dearly because i love helping people, but i dont want to get in trouble with my department either


so what should i do?

if you were my cheif/captain what would you do

 

I help when I can...If there are folks out walking around the cars...I won't stop. If there is one lone car or no one is moving- Then I'll stop.

Your lights and stuff...Makes you a bit of a target. Using them in a "first responder" situation....makes you liable for adhering to the policies and procedures of the local area police and FD's.

::shrug:: Let them complain- If you can justify what you were doing...should be good to go.

 

when i went through firefighting emt school, i was told that i should always stop and make sure everyone is ok and hang out until the police or f.d. arrive. i was also told that if someone sees that im a firefighter (stickers in windows, lights on car) someone could file a complaint. any way... even if i wasnt a ff, id still stop and make sure everything is ok. ive done it almost every time i see a wreck. just seems like a good thing to do. instead being like everyone else and just passing and staring at the person

 

First instance, I would not have had them move their vehicles. I don't care if it's blocking traffic or not. It could be beneficial to the police report or potential insurance claim.

 

DOn't let people bother you. You know you were doing the right thing. If that would have been a person they hit you would be getting a medal of honor. That trooper was just jelous that you have a tacoma with cool lights.

 

No good deed goes unpunished. If you stop you get chewed out, if you don't someone may die because you didn't want an ass chewing. I stop if there is no one else stopped.

 

Also is that really a valid excuse. All that means is that she sucks at driving and maybe you should report her to DPS.
Keep up the good work.

 

It is a judgment call each time. I am a detective in homicide and have an unmarked car. It is equipped with lights and siren, however. Personally if I can easily see that it is a property damage only wreck and they are out of traffic I will call it in and go on. Now if I can't tell about injuries or they are in traffic then I will stop. Part of this personal policy of mine is because I work in a metropolitan area, however, and if I stopped at every wreck I would never get anywhere. If I worked in a rural area I might stop for more. But as long as you are within policy and helping the situation and not causing a hindrance to responding units then I say keep doing what you feel you need to do. Pass it by a supervisor if you still have questions. But this is just my 2 cents...

 

if i wasnt familiar with the area i wouldnt make them move it but here atleast its state law that if its a fender bender you are required to move your vehicle out of the road way, it was also passed with the move over law


not bein a dick just sayin, different laws different places


thanks for all the advise guys, so the basic word is keep helping?

 

I agree with Drakken...I'm FF/EMT...If it is obvious PD only, I don't stop. Usually on those scenes, those involved are already walking around pissed off with cell phones out. If no one is out or it seems like there could be PI, I almost always stop. I do turn on my blue lights once I'm stopped...I'd rather piss off an officer/trooper than get run over. If I'm stopping as a good samaritan, I could care less what someone has to say about it; I'm protected as far as treatment goes, and beyond that, I can argue a ticket in court if some jackass LEO wants to try and cite me for using lights (parked on the side of the road) outside of my jurisdiction. All in all, it's up to you as a responder what to do...just keep yourself safe, take care of your patients, and if anyone else wants to bitch, let 'em!

 

well said

 

<EMT

If no one appears hurt, I laugh and keep driving.

 

More options should be added.

If its a little fender bender I would keep driving. If its a good wreck with heavy damage and passenger compartment intrusion I would definately stop and help out.

I have never stopped to help someone on the side of the road with their hazards on. If they really needed help they'd be trying to flag someone down. Pulling over on the side of the highway/interstate is dangerous even with a fire truck staged appropriately; sure as hell not going to risk my safety unless they REALLY needed it.

 

I am a former LEO and I still stop to help people you are in accidents or broken down. Most departments, fire, EMS, LEO, all have protocols for off-duty events. Look into it. It is a double-edged sword. If you don't stop and someone recognizes you, you gonna catch shit. If you do and something happens, you are gonna catch shit. So, basically, you are gonna catch shit.

 

I have been in these situations, minus the ass chewings, and I only stop if I witness it or no LEO, Ambulance, or FD there. Now if there is just a cop or one unit at scene and there are people running around on fire or with blood squirting everywhere then I will stop. It all really depends on your supervisors at the station. They might just say hey, you got enough of an ass chewing dont do it again, or they could kick you off worst case scenario (hope it doesnt scare you). Hopefully they give you a chance to explain your side of the story, which if you do, you never saw the LEO at scene of the wreck. As someone said earlier, I wouldnt have them move the vehicle. I understand why you did, but I think that is taking too much liability. Hope this helps ya brother.

 

What was the end result of this?

 

I'm an officer and we are supposed to stop even if we are off duty because if somebody sees us in uniform and just drive even if we are in our personal vehicles then we will get in trouble. It's called acting in good faith! If your supervisors punish you for doing the right thing, tell them to F%$k OFF! Thats what I do.

 

all so interesting, im about to complete my EMT certification.

 

Stop and help. Fuck the rest. We are there to try and save lives. Thats our jobs. Last thing I worry about is legal issues when someone is in full arrest.

 

EMT cert is a bitch, not gonna lie. The national registry is the biggest pain ever. I believe I stated earlier, I would stop unless EMS personell at scene. Mainly because I have a fire sticker in my window and there is a story (cant tell if its true or not, but I can picture it) where someone drove through an accident and had an ambulance sticker or fire sticker in the window and the people tried to sue them for not stopping. I can believe it because of how sue happy people have became in this nation, especially CA.