Editor: Re: Township’s FireMedics’ a waste of money (the Times, April 5)
As a taxpayer also, I do agree with prudent spending and careful use of money that we work so hard for to be carefully spent for the better of our local, provincial, and federal governments. However, I do not agree on all your points on the use of firefighters at motor vehicle accidents.
I do have experience in this field, serving nearly 27 years as a firefighter. I would first wish you would educate yourself on what a firefighter’s job encompasses on a daily and weekly basis. It is a service — the fire service.
This service includes responding to a large variety of incidents, protecting lives, property and the environment. Firefighters enforce bylaws and fire inspections, pre-fire and tactical planning, public education, fire safety, hall tours for school children.
A large amount of time is dedicated to training and upgrades in firefighting, vehicle apparatus, operational procedures, specific technical and hazmat specialties.
Each local affiliate is heavily involved in volunteering at many community charities, sporting events, teaching CPR, feeding the homeless, providing snacks to school children and many, many various charitable events you probably did not know happened.
And yes, firefighters also assist with first aid.
I will submit you are correct. The province is indeed short on ambulances and paramedics. That being said, paramedics are highly skilled and well-trained to care for taxpayers’ heath needs. The system we live in is not perfect, but actually works quite well if you take the time to understand the value in the layers of response.
Firefighters respond and provide initial primary care at any medical incident. Basic health care is started and once the ambulance shows up, they are updated and patients “handed over” to paramedics.
Logically, you or anyone would hope when you call for help that it arrives in a reasonable amount of time, no matter who it is. Firefighters do not replace paramedics, they enhance the care patients receive in a timely fashion.
Car accidents are no different. Firefighters are not just there to provide primary care.
Unless you have responded, you cannot understand why four firefighters attend a scene. Cars can (and do) catch fire. They lose dangerous fluids all over the road, creating traffic and environmental hazards.
You may have heard of the Jaws of Life. They’re not found on ambulances. Proper placement of a large fire engine makes the scene safe for those involved and many accidents involve more than just one patient.
Often four firefighters is not enough. Try assisting a van full of 12 people versus a car with a family of four with children under five and two pedestrians also involved.
No that is not usual, but has happened.
In fact, most motor vehicle accidents require all emergency responders to properly mitigate. If firefighters are directing traffic, it is likely because all of the above problems have been controlled and they are either assisting safe traffic flow until RCMP or a tow is on the scene.
I cannot imagine you would be pleased seeing firefighters doing nothing while waiting?
All first responders have training in first aid and will always help when called. Our communities would be at risk if you “ripped up” the first responder agreement.
Having firefighters respond to only fires is simply a knee jerk comment that makes no sense. I would encourage all readers to contact their local fire service if they have any concerns and get the facts about what services they do provide.
Robert Tewson,
Langley
