question for all firefighters emts leos

well look at it from their perspective. you aren't pulling up in a marked vehicle, not wearing a uniform, and you're 16. if you pulled up behind me after a wreck and started ordering me around i'd prolly hit you. and in the second instance when the cop yelled at you.... once again, you are a 16 year old civilian, and there apparently was already a uniformed officer on the scene since he yelled at you. at that point you were prolly just in the way considering nobody actually needed help. if someone is trapped help them. otherwise, since you're not a cop or a full fledged firefighter or emergency responder, its prolly best you stay out of the way

 

Stopped to help some girls wrecked out on the highway a long time ago. Got all out but one injured. Carrying her out we almost died from a car passing an inch from my legs. Then the car wrecks down the road and careens into my vehicle safely parked 100 yards away in the median w/ flashers. She had fake insurance on her, and I lost a 6 month old Toyota.
This world is harsh and cold. I look after my own on my own time from now on.

 

You need a 3rd option in the poll:

3.) Stop to make sure everyone is okay and does not need medical attention, then leave and let them work it out. You don't need to be playing cop/ff/emt/jury all at the same time. Do your deed then leave.

I'd be pissed if someone else called the cops when neither me or the other drive wanted, less govt is better.

 

If I see from my vantage point that people are indeed hurt I'll stop. But if it seem's like a regular fender bender I'm moving with traffic. It's a thankless job, you got a good heart - just don't cause a bigger accident by stopping, that's why the LEO was pissed, plus he's a prolly a prick. Either way you're a firefighter first, you know what to do.

 

the best response on this thread. CATCH Shit!

 

Hey buddy, sorry for posting again. Being a volley is good stuff. During the big brushfire here in LA I met a lot of great people that are vollys. Like I said it's a thankless job, you're doing a good thing. My advice is to apply at your local city to be a firefighter or be a BLM firefighter. At least you'll get paid.

 

currently he is 16 i believe. which is another reason why he should let the pro's handle it. i dont mean to sound like a dick by saying that, i know being young is not something he can change. just stating a fact

 

Ya, if you show up at a wreck in civilian clothes ordering people around and its not in your jurisdiction then yes, you probably should get punched. I try not to stop unless I witness it, am being waved down, or am in a shitty reception area. But if there is LEO or Medics or FF's at scene then I wont stop, unless it is in my stations jurisdiction to see if they need help. If you do decide you should stop to ask if they need help, dont say "i'm a FF/EMT does anyone need help?" Just ask if they need help. Because if you say your a EMS personnel and then leave the scene before someone else arrives then you will probably get sued.

 

I didn't know you're so young. In time kid, you'll be dealing with crap knee high. Take some firefighter classes later, become an EMT. You have lot's of time. Before you know it, you'll be a cynical son of a bitch like me.

 

I'm a firefighter/paramedic full time on a union department in the chicago 'burbs, and I've passed many an accident without stopping. People are far too sue-happy these days for me to risk my family's financial well-being and my paramedic license. Good Samaritan laws only go so far. It is a cynical, @$$hole-ish point of view, but that's the way I see it.

As far as having blue-lights, stickers, license plates, and the like, passing an accident, and getting in trouble for it, people can report you all they want... you have no more duty to act than an ordinary, untrained layperson. That being said, I feel you are inviting trouble by stickering, decaling and blue-lighting the #$%^ out of your vehicle. I don't advertise my job all over my vehicle so someone can call and b*tch to my chief when I cut them off in traffic or something.

From my own experience, and most of the people I know who run blue-lights, are all stickered out, and wear their department shirts, maltese crosses and stars of life everywhere they go, are not people I'd want on my scene anyway, as they give me the impression they'd do more harm than good. There are always exceptions, but again, in my experience...

/rant off

 

Hell this job has made me a cynical son of a bitch at 22, this job will do that to you

 

I'm a full-time firefighter/paramedic. In some states you are required (by law) to stop. You are on duty 24/7. You have a "duty to act". I would always advise to stay out of situations, however, when you have been drinking. Your judgement could be impaired and you could be liable if you do something improper. Most states have "good samaritan" laws aimed at protecting people when they are trying to help someone in need. All that being said....

1.) You should definitely stop to help out. Imagine that person that does need you and you drive right by. I don't personally stop if I see that people are outside of the vehicle and are ok. I feel the same way that you do about helping people. It's just the right thing to do.

2.) You should never be using your lights outside of your municipality. You are authorized to use them BY your municipality, but have no business utilizing them outside of their boundaries. Even if you are doing it because you think that it's making things safer, don't do it.

3.) You should only have someone move a vehicle if it is NEEDED for safety AND THEY are able to do so safely. If they are injured they should not be moving the vehicle. You are stopping there to help stabilize the situation, not manage it. That municipality's police and EMS are ultimately responsible for the call.

4.) If you captain or chief is upset with you for helping people when they need it, I would advise reminding them that it could have been their wife/husband/son/daughter/parent/friend in that vehicle. OR YOURS!!! Ask them if they would stop if they saw an accident with probable injuries. If not, they probably shouldn't be a captain or chief because they obviously don't give a sh$t about people.

That's my two cents..... Keep your head up man and do the right thing. Just don't overstep your bounds.

-Ryan (10 yr firefighter/paramedic in the Chicagoland area (no, not chicago))