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Was I Right or wrong
About 3 years ago we were attending a funeral and had 6 FF's. We didn't have our gear with us (I know I know) and everyone had their dress uni's. We were in our new at the time rescue.
The situation. There was an MVC dispatched as we were heading home. We were at a location that if we turned left the accident was less then a mile away, tutn right to go home. Myself and the other 3 in the back wanted to respond. We were all quailifed, 1 emt, 2 first responders, I'm a past ASSist Chief. The driver and officer (1st year Capt.) didn't. So we turned right and went home. There ended up involving several vehicles with entrapment, an additonal rescue was requested.
My feeling is that even though we didn't have proper PPE we could have done something until others got there. Triage, Traffic, some minor hazard removal and stabilization. While there is always danger we were prepared to lend a hand.
There was much arguement even when we got back to the firehouse. A little history, our fire company was somewhat well known for member assisting on a working alarm back 1975 while going to our convention. They were the 2nd engine onscene and provide water supply and manpower until other units went onscene. Word spread and during the parade (they were placed at the rear because they were late) they receieved the biggest applause.
So my question is should we havew responded or went home?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tony Leonard,Jr. on
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Well I don't want to sound critical,but it goes with outsaying,If you left the station on a piece of apparatus,you take your gear,period.You where right to go home.Because if you where not in a emergency vehicle,it's probibly a good idea to go get one,and your gear from the sation.Just a lil bit of CYA.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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The senior man in the rig makes the call. End of statement....
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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Craig,
My Vollie brethren are far more qualified than I to answer your question, but your dilemma - turn left and go to the accident, turn right and go home - reminds me of an axiom which has helped guide English naval captains since the time of Horatio Nelson: "When in doubt, steer for the sound of the guns."
I don't know that that's necessarily good advice with respect to the rules that govern your actions in your department, but I guess you can tell what I would have done.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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It would be one thing if you just happened upon such an accident as you are going home, it is another thing to self dispatch yourself in someone else's district if you were not dispatched yourself. Also, as already mentioned, you did not have the necessary PPE and were out of service, so IMO the right call was made.
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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Don't feel guilty, number one. My opinion is there's no right or wrong in your case. Sure, ya shoulda had your gear. If you had been dispatched, that's a given, but since you weren't you shouldn't feel guilty for not responding. Either way you guys are okay in this case. Whatever the Captain says...
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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
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Your Captain made the right decision. If you had responded, it's in our natural desire to help once you had arrived on scene. That could be inviting an injury to anyone of you without your PPE with you.
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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Exactly, when hearing it on the radio, you hear mva or whatever. So you think, that you should do whatever you can....even with no ppe. Then you get there and you have people screaming for help, which, raises your want for helping and therefore, as Rusty mentioned, inviting injury.
I believe the right decision was made.
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Permalink Reply by Bull on
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Im sorry...I feel like I need to say something here, and Im sure I will get criticized. Im not sure how you big city Fire/EMS do things, but Im glad my family and I dont live there. Im from a small rural community. And around here, "WE" help each other. You have no idea how P***ED off I would have been if my family was in an accident with life threatening injuries and someone that was trained and/or qualified to help, was in the area and knew about it, didnt show up because it wasnt their district. Im sure the family of the victims who died would appreciate and understand why you did nothing !!! Do we know if there was life threatening injuries....NO !!! But by not stopping to see, we dont know if there was either !!! I guess thats why I enjoy being from a small town, "WE" look after each other. PS: I dont care to hear about not having your gear as an excuse. I totally understand about being safe, but if I dont show up, Im not going to know if I even needed gear. I can do CPR, apply pressure, etc without certain gear !!! I guess we will never know what they could have or not have done.
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Permalink Reply by Just Plain Craig Moyer on
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I have to man up and say I was the one that wanted to respond. The young Capt didn't. I feel like Bull. I could get hurt with PPE. Yes it reduces your risk but at least I have the training to help while others who may offer help don't. Whenever we respond we don't know if we're coming back.
My wife and I were out driving and I just happened to look back and see an MVC. I jumped out of the car and responded. I called it in which was a good thing because disptach had the wrong location. I ID'd myself as a FF. The only thing I could do was triage the scene. One driver was unconcious and trapped. The fireboard had it not only as the wrong location but with no injuries.
I know we have become a very litigious society. But we are protected by the good samaretian (sic) law.
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I totally agree that when your leave the station you should take your gear.
Having said that if for whatever reason I didn't have my gear with and that call would have come in I'd have argued to go. Of course our safety as first responders is of high importance but so is the safety of those in our community.
How would this differ from you driving down the highway and see an accident in another town. If you have the training to do good I feel that you should.
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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I agree with the Captain. No gear means your members could get injured and will make the scene worse. If you are in an area that is always short of manpower, return to the station, kit up, and respond.
It sucks, but this is the the tough decision you have to make when you've gone out the door without your equipment.
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