For me personally, I have never had the need to bug out. None of our local/regional emergencies/disasters have resulted in a situation where it was necessary to leave the area. For almost all major storms, I report to the Fire Station. My family for the most part can handle issues at home.

If a situation arose where bugging out was necessary, I would make sure that had what they needed and got off safely. I would report to the Fire Station for as long as the situation required. My family knows I would never leave the area as long as my services were necessary.

Pete

In theory yes... but it will be more of the disciplinary action against you for not showing up. After all unions are very powerful as we've seen during recent transit strike.

Thing is: living in a big city that is an island with few bridges and tunnels there is no way I could bug out. Also I don't think anyone in EMS and Fire would leave. I'm about 10 min walk from first hospital that would accept my shield for work and in case of emergency I would report there, jump on the ambulance until I can meet my home unit or supervisor. Also if not needed I can stay at JFK Airport and work there which if stranded would be a center of people dropping left and right due to their medical condition.

I think that staying behind is a better option than bugging out in my case. Hospitals/stations are set up to provide for us for extended period of time and I would do more good in the "hot zone" than out there.

It is more of the ethical thing I guess. I think you have to make a choice between: it's my job and I will do it vs I ain't getting paid enough for that.

Thanks, guys. What I was really looking for was legal ramifications though.

Around here, pretty much everything is volunteer organizations. I've unfortuantely met a few "volunteers" who I would describe as a b*****d cowards. They love to show up on scenes, but oddly none of them are the first to sign on and never if it is a scary scene. One in particular, I KNOW he drove past a car accident without stopping, I just can't prove it in a court of law. I know becuase I had pulled over already and recognized his rather distictive hunk of junk car. He's the kind of guy who buys his own kit bag, complete with O2 bottle, and carries it everywhere, even in the grocery store. He's the worst of the lot, but too many of them are what I've called "rescue studs". I was wondering if there was something that could be done to them if they bugged out and said to heck with the community.

And I know that warm bodies are critical. I'm also pretty sure that a warm body that shows up to play in the exercises but never gets their hands dirty is probably worse than an empty file.

I would address the issue with the chief officer of the company to which this individual belongs and find out what their SOG/SOP (if they have one) states regarding responding/stopping in one’s personal vehicle at the scene of an incident.

Legally (state/local laws), it may be a gray area, as “duty to perform” may refer to an individual actually on duty. Various volunteer jurisdictions may interpret “on duty” to mean only when the individual is signed up to ride or actually at the station, others may consider it 24/7.

I function on three levels, Fire Fighter, Technical Rescue Specialist and ALS Provider. All three as a volunteer, I do not respond to many fires now a days, as there tends to be a substantial number of responders and unless there is a page for all available FFs, I keep a low profile. As a member (24/7) of the technical rescue team, I respond to all calls, as our team is limited in the number members and response by all available personal is always necessary. On the EMS side, unless I am riding on the Medic Unit as an ALS provider, my stopping at an accident scene, would be to provide BLS, since we are not permitted to carry any ALS equipment in our personal vehicles, doing so would likely result in lost of one’s license (which has happened). If I come across an accident scene, my stopping to help is dependant upon what units are the scene. If there is already a full assignment I will generally not stop, unless it is obvious it is a major incident and additional assistance is required.

Pete

Pete, I hope I didn't make it sound like not responding to all calls is a bad thing. It isn't, you are only human.

As fothe other suggestions, thanks.

No, not at all.

In my experience many volunteer companies generally have SOGs/SOPs on response. Several of the companies, in our county require members to respond to the fire station and not directly to the scene. This ensures the equipment gets out, controls the amount of on-scene traffic and prevents freelancing. Other companies allow members to respond directly to the scene, so if one is near or passing by the incident stopping at the scene is permitted.

Since our ATR Team’s vehicle only holds two and our area of coverage is the entire county plus surrounding jurisdictions, we are encouraged to respond directly to the scene/staging.

Many of the companies in our county are a combination career/volunteer, responding to all calls is not as critical as those areas, which have only volunteers. As our city (Frederick which is now the second largest incorporated city in Maryland) and county have grown, many of the newer individuals and families moving into the area, do not have the same connection as long time residents and tend not join the local Fire Departments, so many of the companies have had to request supplementation with career staff. This is normal and expected as the number of calls has increased and the number of volunteers has remained relatively the same. ALS which used to be 100% volunteer is now less then 5% volunteer, due in part to the volume of calls, the need to maintain proficiency/continuing education and the length of training required to become ALS licensed.

Pete

I work as a Paramedic and EMS instructor for a living. I'm getting paid for saving lives. I also volunteer with a local EMS organization helping community and new EMTs. Only few states have the law that makes it mandatory for EMS professional to stop at the scene and render care. I think in NYC the only way you are obligated to render care is if you are in your uniform or your car has First Responder markings but all those rules go out the window if you are a volunteer. Based on my NYC experience there is nothing you can do about the gentleman (EMT/Paramedic) who passed the scene and didn’t provide care. It happens here everyday and it is a reason for high tension between some agencies. I’m talking about Hatzalah Jewish Volunteer Ambulance which is very selective in their assignments and is known to treat non-critical pts who are of certain faith prior to critical pts who aren’t. Or bypass accidents that involve a creamed delivery man all over the intersection because he was Chinese. EMS community who tries to raise complaints is always told to drop them and nobody was ever successful. As a matter of fact certain “first responders” happen to try to pull you over with their cars and still there is nothing that can be done. Happened to me and I got PD involved and the minute they heard “discrimination” only warning was issued while somebody else would get few months in jail for impersonation.

Also reason why people don’t get involved is liability. We live in the era where everyone is happy to sue somebody. And to be honest I will be more than happy to pull over and render care to seriously injured/ill but I stay away from bs. Also you have to remember that EMS is a job and you are not a paramedic 24/7. There is life outside your work. If agency that is responsible for your area has unit in service and you are off let others do their work and you go about your normal life. If I wanted to pull over and render care every time I go out I would never get anywhere because there is about 2 car accidents I pass everyday. But than again people say that if it was your family you would want somebody there asap. Yes it’s true but you have to draw a line somewhere and let others do their job. What I wrote applies in the big system and place like NYC. Other places may be different especially if they are volunteer only. Also above doesn’t apply during disasters. When Winnies Poo starts flying we all get to play with Eyore and Pigglet whenever we like it or not .

In short if you know the guy, walk up to him and say what you really think. It hurts more when you tell somebody the truth face to face than if you bring legal system into action. Probably the best to follow “duty to act” story is what happened to New Orleans PD during Katrina and disciplinary action being taken against those who left.

I'm at the hospital for my shift whenever there's a hurricane in the neighborhood (except Andrew as I was a student nurse and told to stay home)

I have been able to make it home after my shift without too much problems, and available to my family.

Just planning ahead, just in case.

I was thinking of my family specifically, and just to stave off dehydration if there something preventing us from getting in to the doc's.

If there's blood loss that would require IV fluids, that's a different ballgame and we're in-bound to the ER come hell or highwater.

Thanks Arney,

I am adding Gatorade powder to my hurricane box inventory.