While some Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls may be handled with just the two personnel on the ambulance, there are many that require additional help. All Clinton Firefighters are also highly trained paramedics, therefore you received the top care with the first arriving unit. Nearly every EMS system sends a unit to "back" the ambulance for a number of reasons. First, nearly every life-threatening emergency incident is best handled with at least two paramedics in addition to the driver. In this incident, the two Paramedics on the ambulance would tend to the patient while the officer on the engine drives them to the hospital. Second, there is not always enough reliable information on the patient condition to determine if additional help is needed. Valuable time may be lost if additional personnel are not dispatched until the ambulance arrives and makes an assessment. Finally, even so-called "routine" medical calls often require the patient to be lifted into the back of the ambulance. Even if the patient is not obese, it is safer for the patient and reduces injuries of the personnel to have additional help to lift.
When the fire truck is not needed in an incident, it is released to go back into service as soon as possible. The cost of the fuel to have the extra help immediately available when it is needed is a small cost when compared to the loss of precious minutes when a life is on the line.
