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EmergencyResponse1.docx

Emergency Response

The excitement of a “code 3” response with siren’s blaring and air horns blasting is just part of the enjoyment of being a firefighter, but should it be? The importance of following department standard operational procedures for driver safety should not be taken lightly. Driver safety procedures are in place not to only protect the firefighters, city and department, but the citizens that share the roadways. Many years ago while responding to a non-emergent incident as a young rookie firefighter, the engineer asked the captain “you want the response to be code-2 or code-3”, the captain responded, “code-3 because half the fun is getting there”. Though no accidents occurred while working for this captain, this type of statement and thought process should be avoided, as a non-emergent response is just that, not an emergency.

In California, the Clowney fire department expects responsible and defensive driving from all fire department personnel regardless of the level of response. During “code-3” response, it is expected that drivers sharing the road will act according to what the vehicle code states. Experience has proven that this is not the case as people will panic and react in a way that reflects differently than what the vehicle code states. To avoid an accident, the apparatus operator needs to be aware of this possibility and let the drivers know of their intention so as to not cause further panic. According to the Clowney Fire Departments operations manual on driver safety, “The use of sirens and warning lights does not automatically give the right-of-way to the emergency unit” (2007). This is important for the apparatus operator to remember as responding “code-3” is just a request to the other drivers to proceed. Speed is usually a factor in accidents. The Clowney operations manual on driver safety states, “Responding units may exceed the posted speed limit by 10mph if road, weather, and traffic conditions safely allow” (2007). Additionally, to avoid an accident at an intersection, the Clowney operations manual states, “at intersections with stop signs or a red signal, the driver will slow the vehicle and, if necessary, bring the unit to a complete stop” (2007).

In conjunction with the driver safety procedures to help avoid accidents, Clowney dispatches its units with a level of response based on the type of call. All “alpha” and “bravo” responses are non-emergent and are a “code-2” response and all “charlie, delta and echo” responses are considered emergencies and are a “code-3” response. Some accidents are just unable to be avoided, but with standard operational procedures and response levels in place, it will assist in lowering the probability of an accident.

Reference

Bennett, L.T. (2008). Fire Service Law (1st ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall