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Out of Zone Response
I was reading the thread about scanners and a reply saying that the person would never respond to someone else's call. Scenarios started coming to mind and I was wondering what others have to say about this.
For example: You are driving down the road and you have your mobile scanner with you and you catch a call for something like 60 yr old with chest pains and you just happen to be driving through that particular neighborhood at the time. I know that if I actually witness someone in trouble, I will help however I can, but to respond to a location out of your district...I dunno. What about if it's a fire that you are driving by and see that there MIGHT be a shortage or people. Do you stop and see if they need extra help? Would this be concidered "freelancing"? Or would you wait for a MA call?
I suppose this question will be geared more toward volly dept's, but I would like to hear voices from different angles.
I should say that I do not own a scanner, and the pager is set to our own districts calls. This is just a question that came to mind, and I couldn't come up with an informative response to myself.
Thanks in advance
KSHF
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Powers on
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Inter-department training.
How many departments out there can say they do enough?
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Permalink Reply by Michael A. Lewis on
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We do some, But not as much as we should. Really it should be once a month at least if not more.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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I suppose my opinion differs slightly because of separate issues . First our pagers activate to cover voice communication within our mutual aide district, that was what I was talking about responding to so no I don't think a scanner should be used. Next if the IC accepts our help it is considered mutual aide and we are automatically covered upon his acceptance of our service. We also have mutual aide meetings amongst ourselves once a month,always at a different companies station.Lastly I am an instructor thus known to most of the officers in this mutual aide district. However medically I don't get involved unless I witness the event but as Ralph knows I'm just a first responder so unless I overstep the roll of first responder then I am covered by the good Samaritan act. Let me close by stating that if any one were to refuse my help I certainly wouldn't be upset by that. That is why I asked for crying out-loud. The I C knows best what he has on hand and is responding. I have been assigned some low priority tasks but that is of no consequence and if no assistance is required I don't take offence and leave. I have never had any problem and even when I was told no help was needed(twice) both times my chief was contacted and thanked for my offer.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Hulsey on
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Responding on your own, you probably will not be covered by any type of insurance.
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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Wow, I thought this thread was dying off.
Well, obviousely there is no one word answer for a scenario such as this. There are always "what-ifs" to contemplate. If it were me in that situation, I would not respond to a residence in another town. Unless you are known by that particular dept. on a first name basis, steer clear. That goes for fire or medical. In other situations, as mentioned earlier, if you personally witness an event, you will of course do what you can, in the scope of your training and certification. I know that here, if I witness a medical emergency in the province I live in, I can help up to the level of my training and be covered if something happens.
And, to add, if I am in my vehicle, it's for a reason. I don't understand the need for a scanner when your pager let's you know when something's going on in your area. If you are far enough away that you don't get the page, then obviousely you are too far away to respond. The scanner also adds another antenna to your vehicle that aids in the un-necessary whipping of unknowing birds. I wouldn't want that on my conscience.
This discussion also leaves me wondering how many people are out there that actually drive around with a scanner for the main reason of hearing calls so they can go and be nosy. I'll let that thought pass without consideration for fear that the answer would upset me.
Again, thanks to everyone who participated in this discussion, I hope someone found some tid-bits of info that they can keep for themselves.
KSHF
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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If you jump calls in another department's legal jurisdiction by listening to a scanner, you are creating a host of legal problems for both you and the other department.
1) You have no department, legal, or insurance backing to be on that scene.
2) You have no legal right of entry to the scene if it is on private property.
3) You may "drive by" and help create a traffic jam that can interfere with the other department's response, tanker shuttle, or ambulance transport. That opens you up to both criminal and civil liability in most states.
4) You have no SCBA and are not fit-tested or certified on the other department's SCBA. (If you do have a SCBA, how do you see around your big, bushy tail in order to drive your vehicle?)
5) You may be creating an OSHA violation situation for the other department.
6) If you force entry, you have no jurisdiction, and thus may be committing a felony Breaking and Entering.
7) If someone's valuables are missing after the call, guess who will get the blame?
8) If your vehicle causes a secondary accident, guess whose insurance premiums will skyrocket - if your policy isn't cancelled outright?
There's no "dunno" about squirreling someone else's calls in a POV, let alone using a scanner to get a head start.
Respond legally to the calls to which you are dispatched, or stay at home.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Meadows on
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Couldn't have said it better myself Ben.
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Exactly right on Ben.
I would also like to add that I see mobile scanners as a distraction from driving. I doubt there areany statistics on this, but, to me, the person will be putting more focus on getting the address and particulars of an incident than of the road. Maybe I don't understand 100%, but I see no reason for a mobile scanner. But if you do use one, remember, like Ben pointed out, it's not your call....keep back 500ft. I'll go review the other thread and see if I can get some insight about mobile scanners.
Thanx Ben for your response.
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Derek I know of a reason to have a scanner and it has nothing to do with the fire service. I am a licensed amateur radio operator technician class so I would use it to monitor the ham bands when I travel. I would also use it during disasters so I could know where the red cross etc. would be setting up so I could go and help set up and run shelters and things like that. There is much talk about scanners being bad but they do have a use. By the way, for me I can have one no matter what state I am in due to my ham license. Does that make me special? No it don't and if I abused the privilige I would be severely punished. The FCC don't play games with licensed people there are severe fines. Perhaps if we started fining people who abused our comm systems we wouldn't have such discussions.
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Hey Michael, Thanks for that information. I agree, it IS a useful tool to have, and as I have hinted at earlier, there are ligit operators. I honestly wasn't thinking about the licensed operators. So you got me on that one. Thanks. I, in no means, am trying to turn this into a debate about whether scanners are good or bad, I am only inviting discussion on using scanners to respond to calls when out on the road. But, I suppose I have opened up that debate with my last post.
So, let's just say that you did respond out of zone by listening to the scanner. Are you saying that you, being a licensed operator, could be punished by the FCC if someone complained? Forgive my ignorance, I'm on unfamiliar ground.
Thanks for your input Mike.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Derek, If I came by something out of my response area depending on what the call was I might stop as a civilian and offer assistance but to stop at a call an offer assistance or get involved I doubt very seriously I would do that. I do not carry a scanner in my personal vehicle nor do I have any interest in one. I have been on the other end of this scenario an know how I feel when someone stops an wants to help us. We would simply thank them and send them on their way. If your not in your response area your a Civilian offering help. Everyone would most likely offer help to someone in need we happen to come upon on the road. But thinking your going to go to someone elses call? I think not.
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