What the hell are these paramedics doing?

[Jerboy]

So I drove to a nearby Plaid Pantry to get something. When I pulled into their parking lot, next to my car was an unattended idling diesel ambulance. Went in there and saw two American Medical Response paramedic crews getting some junk food. As I was ringing up my stuff they left the store. They got in the ambulance, flipped on the siren and in no time it was out of my sight as it's diesel screamed away. Someone in this career please explain what they're doing.

1. Why did they leave the engine running as they shop?

2. Oh well, we're in middle of an emergency call, but we'll get to it after we get our junk food.

3. Just a coincidence. They got a call just as they were taking off.

 

[Rookie]

1. The Engine was left running because of the reason you witnessed. If a call came in when they were shopping, they wouldn't have to wait for the glowplugs to heat and then start the Ambulance. They could just get in a take off.

2. First rule of being a Medic: You ALWAYS get calls when you are trying to eat something!



Edited the friggin' smiley. I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE PUT A DASH FOR A NOSE!

 

[C'DaleRider]

Much of the onboard electronics, the radios, etc., have to be turned off to start the ambulance. It's much easier just to let it idle........not cheaper or better for the environment, just faster and easier.

BTW, modern deseil engines have glowplugs that can start an engine within seconds. They no longer have those 15 second or longer waits, Rookie.

 

[etech]

"What the hell are these paramedics doing?"

Charging the battery.

 

[PsychoAndy]

damn, you always got beef with everything? sheesh...

everything that everyone previously said makes sense.

 

[Pliablemoose]

On the starting issue, I've owned 3 diesels, once the engine is warm, you don't need to wait for the glow plugs, just crank it like a gasoline powered car pretty much all day if you don't let it cool down.

They do have lots of electronics etc that are a pain to restart sometimes, one would like to think that they got a call right after their food showed up, but the reality is they have to eat too, how'd you like to work a 12-36 hour shift & not have a clearly defined lunch/supper break?

They perform an invaluable service most people don't even think about till the worst has happened & they don't make much $ @ all, really have to appreciate their dedication

 

[tweakmm]

update the list!

 

[WolverineGator]

One paramedic had to take the other to the hospital after eating all that junk food and having a heart attack.

 

[HOWITIS]

was their alot of traffic that night? its been known to happen.

 

[yakko]

Because I told them to stop there while they were taking me in.

 

[911paramedic]

In vegas we leave them running to keep them cool in the summer, AC and all.

We have pagers and radios so it sounds like they got a call while inside the store.

Many people do not understand that it is illeagal for us to use the lights and sirens when not on a call that requires them. We also go to the hospitals with them off about 95% of the time, with patients. If you see an ambulance running lit up to the hospital it is for a critical patient. (coded patient, massive trauma, unconscious/unresponsive, etc) People having heart attacks are driven to the hospital without lights and sirens, not like in the movies.

 

[Jzero]

I was waiting for this post to say something like this:
I saw a homeless man get jumped by a bunch of kids. He was badly beaten, unconscious, bleeding profusely and had multiple limbs severed. A rich-looking well-dressed man jumped in and chased the kids away, but not before receiving papercut from the homeless man's newspaper blanket.

When the paramedics arrived, would you believe the helped the DAMN HOMELESS GUY FIRST?!?!?!


I'm glad it was something almost reasonable.

 

[UberNeuman]

"The Great Scroll" of the whiner has been updated: thanx Pyscho Andy.

 

[Kelvrick]

<< "The Great Scroll" of the whiner has been updated: thanx Pyscho Andy. >>


I just added that to my favorites.