Can a Paramedic Pronounce Death?

As an emergency care provider, paramedics encounter death all the time. Although paramedics will do what they can to save lives, what if their measures don’t work or what if they arrive too late?

So, can a paramedic pronounce someone dead?

Whether a paramedic can pronounce death depends on where in the United States they are, as state laws varies by state. It also depends on how ‘obviously’ dead someone is. If a paramedic cannot issue the measure, then a physician typically will. Since the physician needs to sign the death certificate, they will need to be involved at some point anyway. 

In this article, we’ll explain more on legal death, what a paramedic’s role is in declaring legal death, and how long a paramedic will administer CPR to save someone’s life. Keep reading! 

When Is a Person Considered Legally Dead?

First, we need to talk about legal death so you’re clear on that. When someone is considered legally dead, it’s jurisdictionally certified that they’re not living. 

This may sound extraneous, but medical experts must be sure that someone is legally dead before signing off on their death certificate. Otherwise, declaring someone dead who turns out to be alive can lead to disastrous consequences.

In some instances, a person doesn’t necessarily have to be dead for legal death to be declared. In missing persons cases, this happens all the time. 

When the case goes cold and someone has been missing for many years with dwindling hope of finding them, that person will likely be pronounced legally dead. They may still be alive, but until the case is solved, that’s the declaration.

This means of pronouncing someone legally dead is sometimes called declared death in absentia. 

When someone is declared dead in absentia, a doctor or physician does not necessarily have to make the pronouncement. 

The other instance in which death in absentia may be declared is if the person was in great danger when they were last seen and are likely to have perished since. 

For example, if someone was trapped in a raging fire the last you saw them but you never got any confirmation of their death, then declaring death in absentia would be applicable. 

In all other cases of legal death, a medical expert must make the declaration, often a physician. What constitutes legal death in the US can vary depending on state law, but two general categories are followed. 

These are brain death, where the brain has stopped functioning, and/or cardiopulmonary death, where the person is no longer breathing nor is their heart beating. 

A medical expert may attempt to get the heart going again or to get the person breathing, but if these measures are considered futile, then legal death is declared. 

The physician will then produce a death certificate, which includes the name of the dead, the time of the person’s death, and the signature of the physician. 

Can a Paramedic Pronounce Death?

Given what you know about legal death, you can see how the pronouncement mostly comes down to physicians. Does this mean paramedics cannot declare death?

Not necessarily. 

As we mentioned in the intro, whether a paramedic is allowed to declare a death varies on a state-by-state level. 

Take, for example, San Mateo, California. Here are their guidelines for determining death. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

According to the guidelines, “a paramedic (without base/receiving hospital physician contact)…may make a determination of death if the victim is obviously dead.” 

So what does it mean when someone is obviously dead? The guidelines state that one or more of the following must have occurred:

• No signs of life, including pulse and respiration, and the person has not been poisoned, ingested drugs, nor have they experienced hypothermia
• Terminal illness death 
• Multi-casualty incidents
• Destruction of the liver, lungs, brain, and heart and/or apnea
• Decomposition
• Rigor mortis
• Incineration
• Decapitation

In other words, when they can walk up to a scene and can tell that someone has been dead for some time and/or shows no sign of recovery, a paramedic can declare death. 

The above applies whether the death was of natural causes, by suicide, or even homicide. Keep in mind this rule does not apply nationwide. 

Even if a paramedic can declare a time of death, they still can’t proceed with the death certificate without getting a physician involved. 

Many times, if someone was legally and obviously dead and the paramedic found them, the paramedic would call the physician, describe the victim and what happened, and note the time of death during the call. 

The physician (or county coroner) may still have to come out and check that the victim is indeed legally dead. If that’s the case, then their time of death reading would likely overrule that of the paramedic

Also, the physician’s signature will be on the death certificate, not the paramedic’s, even if the paramedic is the one to discover the legally dead person. 

Can an EMT Pronounce Death? 

If you read our post on the differences between an EMT and a paramedic, then you should know that EMTs cannot administer as many advanced treatments as a paramedic can. 

For instance, an EMT can provide oxygen, glucose, or CPR, but they won’t use a cardiac monitor, provide life-saving drugs, or insert an IV line like a paramedic.

Given the somewhat limited capacities of an EMT compared to a paramedic, if an EMT discovers a legally dead person first, can they pronounce the death? 

It depends on where in the country they are. 

In San Mateo, the above-linked guidelines mention that EMTs too can make the call for death if someone is obviously dead using those criteria we discussed in the last section. In New York, the rules may be similar.

Other states that allow an EMS to pronounce someone dead would likely still follow the same parameters, that someone would have to be obviously dead for an EMT to be able to make the call. 

Like with a paramedic, an EMT is not the one ordering or signing a death certificate. Their declaration of legal death may require a physician to come out and investigate, and again, the physician’s logged time of death would overrule that of the EMT’s. 

How Long Does a Paramedic Administer CPR?

Of course, EMTs and paramedics don’t always discover someone dead, but may be present as someone dies or almost dies. 

By administering CPR, a paramedic could potentially save someone’s life. In which situations is cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR necessary?

To be eligible for CPR, a person must have no pulse, this is usually preceded by:

• Stopped breathing 
• Stopped breathing normally, such as taking small, shallow breaths
• Fallen unconscious
• Failed to respond
• Shown no signs of life

When administering CPR, the goal is to get oxygenated blood back to vital organs such as the brain. At what point should a paramedic stop issuing CPR and deem that it’s not effective, likely because the person has died?

According to a 2020 report, the National Association of EMS Physicians or NAEMSP has recommended administering CPR for 20 minutes and no longer. 

The report mentions that many medical centers with EMTs and paramedics have created resuscitation termination rules to avoid legal issues. A paramedic may not make the call themselves about when to stop CPR, but a physician might recommend it for them in some instances.

All of this depends on your state as well as your  medical protocols which are determined by a doctor usually referred to as medical control.

There are exceptions to applying 20 minutes of CPR, such as if a person has a do not resuscitate or DNR order. There are various forms of a DNR, but essentially the DNR is a legal document that tells a paramedic not to use CPR if the person ever stops breathing or experiences cardiac arrest. A doctor always approves of such an order.

A person may opt for a DNR order if they think that having a cardiac episode might lead to them living the rest of their life hooked up to a machine. Other people who choose a DNR order are terminal and approaching the end of life anyway.

If a paramedic is about to apply CPR and finds the person has a DNR order, they must stand by and do nothing. This often results in the person’s death. 

Finally, paramedics often cannot declare legal death; that’s the job of a physician. In many states across the US though, if someone is obviously dead, the paramedic can pronounce a time of death. 

A physician must still be present to fill out the death certificate paperwork, and their reported time of death could be used instead of the paramedic’s if necessary. 

from FirefighterNOW https://firefighternow.com/can-a-paramedic-pronounce-death/

What’s In a Pro Pocket

from CMC PRO https://www.cmcpro.com/whats-in-a-pro-pocket/

Close Before You Doze See the Dramatic Difference a Door Can Make (Flemish Subtitles)

from ULfirefightersafety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKIxsAyREiU

Can the Fire Department Break into My House?

A fire has just started in your home. You quickly evacuate and call the fire department. They arrive in short order and then begin…breaking into your house? Can firefighters really do that?

The fire department can indeed smash through a window or break down a door to access and ventilate a burning building. In a case where your neighbor’s house was burning but the fire had spread to your house, the fire department could “break into” the property as well.

In this article, we’ll talk all about when, why, and how firefighters will access your burning house as well as the legalities of such. 

We’ll even discuss what you should do about the broken windows and/or door after such an event. Keep reading! 

Note: Nothing in this article is legal advice.  If you are seeking legal advice on the legalities of firefighters entering a building, get an attorney.

Why Would the Fire Department Break into a House?

First, let’s get some semantics out of the way. Technically, the fire department is breaking into your house, as they’re entering without you necessarily granting them access. 

However, you can trust that your local firefighters are not breaking in for nefarious reasons as a criminal would. They’re not trying to make off with your big-screen TV or valuable jewelry.

Why does a fire department break into a house? Let’s go over the reasons now.

To Put Out the Fire

This is the biggest reason by far that firefighters will enter a property by breaking in. If it’s a house fire, then the blaze is most likely indoors. To combat the flames, the firefighters need to get inside your home.

Imagine what would happen if the fire department pulled up to your curb and asked you for the keys to the front door. There are so many reasons this is impractical and sometimes even impossible. 

You and your other family members might not have the keys on your person. 

Even if you did, there’s no guarantee the key would fit into the door, which could have melted. Plus, this wastes so much valuable time. 

In firefighting, every second counts, so the fire department can’t afford to get into the house the good, old-fashioned way.

That’s why the fire department will break into your home if it’s on fire even if your neighbors called 911 because their home was the original source of the blaze. 

To Search for Victims in Need of Rescue 

The other reason a fire department has to break into a house, so to speak, is to gain quick access to who’s inside. 

They have no time to finagle with a key ring and decide which key is for the front door and which is for the side door, not when there are people trapped inside the house. 

The firefighters need to get into the home quickly so they can begin searching for the potential victims, however many of them there are. 

Whether the firefighters help the victims out of the home personally or they provide a means for the victims to escape, the fire department wants to save as many lives as possible.

That doesn’t always exclusively mean human lives, either. You may remember our recent post on whether firefighters will save pets. 

If all human victims are out of the blaze, then yes, the fire department will do their best to recover your precious dog, cat, or other pet. 

If they had to try to unlock the door to your home, the time they’d spend doing this means they’d lose time in rescuing victims, including your favorite four-legged friends. 

How Does the Fire Department Break into Houses?

A firefighter’s job is to save lives first and preserve structures second. Once all the victims are out of the building, the fire department will focus on extinguishing the blaze rather than divide their attention between that and search and rescue. 

Some homes can be saved and others can’t.

Regardless, a firefighter will not hesitate to break into a home if they need to, even if this does detract from the quality of the property. This doesn’t mean firefighters are intent on destruction, nor that they’re reckless.

If the call is not considered an emergency, the fire department will try to thoughtfully enter the home or premises. Here are a few methods they’ll use according to specific situations firefighters encounter often. 

Turning the Power Off

In an apartment complex or another multi-unit building where only the upper area is on fire, the fire department might start in the basement and try to prevent the spread of fire by powering down the building. 

If they couldn’t get into the electrical panel room, the firefighters might smash through a padlock or even remove the molding around the door using a small crowbar to gain access rather than break the door down outright. 

Then they could power down the complex.

In such a situation, the building owner would only need to mold the doorframe back or hammer some nails to secure the frame. This is very minor damage to the door, plus the building can be saved by controlling the fire early on. 

Breaking Garage Panes

What if there’s a gas leak or a strong gas smell in a home or multi-unit building? 

If there’s no fire raging, then the fire department will ask the homeowner if they can gain access to the garage. Provided the homeowner isn’t available, such as being at work, then the fire department is left to their own devices.

Remember, this is still considered a non-emergency, although that status can change at any time. The firefighters might get into the garage by breaking a garage pane or two. 

Then they can turn off the gas, ventilate the house, and prevent a fire. The homeowner would have to make several small, inexpensive repairs to their garage door. 

Kicking the Door In

In more serious situations where the home or building is already on fire and the fire department needs immediate access, there’s no time to waste. 

Some firefighters will kick the door down, using a mule kick technique to smash the door into two or more pieces. 

You may not see this all the time from fire departments though because kicking the door in doesn’t work quickly nor easily for all types of doors. 

Thus, a firefighter could be wasting precious seconds and his or her own energy trying this. 

Breaking the Door

More often, two firefighters will use a maul with a flat-head axe or a Halligan bar to break a door. A flat-head axe is a common firefighting tool that can smash through doors made of wood and other materials. 

A Halligan bar or tool is named for Hugh Halligan, the First Deputy Chief of the New York City Fire Department back in 1948. 

He created the tool, which is still used to this day. With a Halligan bar, a firefighter can strike, punch, twist, or pry a door. This is due to the components of the tool, which include a pick with a tapered edge, an adze or wedge blade, and a fork, which is claw-like.

If a firefighter needs to break the latch of a door rather than the door itself, a Halligan bar can do that. 

In the case of a swinging door, the firefighter would put the Halligan bar between the doorjamb and the door itself, separating the two. Then a second firefighter can use a flat-head axe or a sledgehammer to finish the job. 

Other duties of the Halligan bar are removing top hinges on doors or even breaking through walls. 

Most Halligan bars are 18 to 54 inches long and made of stainless steel, beryllium copper, or titanium. You can add carrying rings or straps to make toting the Halligan bar easier. 

Smashing the Windows

Breaking the windows of a home or building is a top priority for the fire department (*depending on the circumstances). 

By opening all the windows forcibly, heat and smoke can exit the building, which can lessen the extent of the fire damage to your home. Ventilating in this manner can also be used as a strategy to send the smoke and heat away from a room or area of the house where victims are trapped.

The fire department will use a Halligan bar, window punch, pike pole or a flat-head axe for breaking through windows. 

As a word of warning, you should never try to help the firefighters along by opening the windows in a burning building. For one, this distracts from your first objective, which should always be to get out of the home as quickly as possible.

Also, opening windows and ventilating a home during a fire must be timed properly in order to protect firefighters inside.  If you open or break a window at the wrong time it can change the interior conditions and put firefighters in danger. Leave this job to the professionals. 

Cutting a Hole into the Roof

Besides creating ventilation by removing the windows, the fire department will also vent the roof by cutting a hole there. 

Now there’s yet another place for smoke and heat to exit so the firefighters can safely get into the building and do their job with more visibility. 

This form of ventilation is known as vertical ventilation, whereas breaking windows is horizontal ventilation. 

To penetrate the thick roof, firefighters will rely on an assortment of tools, often chainsaws, “K-12s” and cutters. By making a 4×4 hole, the firefighter has 16 square feet of ventilation. 

A larger hole that’s 6×6 increases the hole to 36 square feet. Going too much bigger than that is often unnecessary.

There are some critics of cutting holes into the roof of a home. Indeed, this method can waste valuable time, and a firefighter’s life can sometimes be more at risk for doing it. 

Check out this video from a firefighter in Fresno…

Is It Legal for a Fire Department to Break into a House?

Let’s take a moment to talk about the legalities of a firefighter entering your home, shall we? 

If you’re wondering whether you can turn a fire department away after you’ve already called 911, to answer that, we bring up the story of Lisa Boyle from Orange County, New York.

In 2011, Boyle’s son, who was 14 at the time, believed the chimney of their home was on fire, so he did the right thing and dialed 911. Boyle attempted to cancel the call but appeared to be unsuccessful. 

Local firefighters arrived, Boyle asked them to go, but they wouldn’t until they inspected the property for any traces of fire. 

Firehouse.com, which discussed this story, says this on the matter: “Probably as much as any single issue, the legal duty of a fire department to respond to a fire distinguishes what we do as firefighters from what we do as emergency medical providers. To put it simply, a competent person may have the legal right to refuse medical treatment against medical advice, but a property owner (competent or otherwise) does not have a similar legal right to refuse firefighters the right to enter a property to look for the source of smoke, investigate an alarm or extinguish a fire.”

It’s the fire department’s job to do those three things, and even outside of their occupational duties, if a firefighter were to get lax, they’d potentially be liable. 

That same Firehouse article mentions that fire departments have a legal authority granted to them from localities and states to break into homes when needed. 

It’s not just residential properties firefighters can access in this manner, but businesses as well. That’s the case even if the owner doesn’t consent to the building or home being entered, such as the case of Lisa Boyle. 

What to Do After the Fire Department Has Left

Your home was saved by your trusty fire department. You’re glad, but the damage the firefighters caused by getting into your home is significant. 

The windows are broken, you may be missing a front door, and there could be a hole in your roof.

Fortunately, most of this–as well as the fire damage–is usually covered under your homeowner’s policy. 

How extensive your coverage depends on if you pay to protect detached structures (such as a detached garage or shed), just your home, or dwellings like an attached garage. 

Although it’s not convenient to get new windows or a fresh front door, at the end of the day, this is small potatoes. You still have a home and a family who’s all alive, and that’s what matters most. 

Finally, firefighters have a legal and moral right to enter a home through any means necessary in a fire. The methods of entry include breaking down doors, smashing windows, and cutting a hole into the roof if the fire is serious. 

You might not always like this fact, but it’s a crucial one. Besides, homeowner’s insurance should pay for the damages later. 

from FirefighterNOW https://firefighternow.com/can-the-fire-department-break-into-my-house/

Online Course: UL FSRI & ISFSI Understanding and Fighting Basement Fires

from ULfirefightersafety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S15eGXoTI7I

Will firefighters rescue pets?

Our pets mean everything to us, with many people regarding pets as part of the family. That’s why it’s so heartbreaking to find your pet stuck in a perilous situation. Whether it’s the classic cat trapped in a tree or a dog in a burning building, can you rely on your local firefighters to rescue your pets?

Firefighters will do their best to rescue pets, especially during a fire. However, their priority is to rescue people first. If a situation is too perilous to get a pet out safely, then the firefighters might not be able to save the animal.

In this article, we’ll discuss more on the situations in which firefighters do and don’t rescue pets, including putting to bed the idea that firefighters are known to get cats out of trees. 

If you have a furry four-legged friend or any other pet at home, this is one article you’re not going to want to miss!

Will a Firefighter Rescue Pets?

Fires bring with them more than just flames, but intense heat, choking smoke, and falling rubble. If your pet is caught in the crosshairs during a fire, you might wonder what the extent of a firefighter’s services entails in this instance. Let’s discuss that now.

What if my pet is stuck in a tree?

It’s the old standard television and movie plot: a cat has gotten loose outside and climbed up a tree, and only the fire department can save the furry animal. 

Since firefighters have tall ladders, the thought is they can drive their fire trucks to the site, pull the ladder out, and bring the kitty back down to safety.

You’ve probably seen this scenario so many times in movies and television that you think it’s reality, right? 

If so, you’re certainly not to blame. 

You might have even thought your cat was primarily supposed to drink milk because you saw that in a TV show too.

Like the milk thing for cats (they should drink water, as milk upsets their stomach), the cat in a tree thing for firefighters isn’t what it seems either.

From the accounts of firefighters (myself included), most say that in their careers, they’ve never had to rescue a cat from a tree. 

Would they if they had to? Absolutely. Many fire departments don’t even offer this service though. 

Think about why that is. If your cat is in a tree but that tree isn’t on fire, nor is the surrounding area, then it’s a huge waste of the fire department’s time and resources to come out and help the feline. 

The time the firefighters devote to coaxing the cat down could be spent saving lives and preserving homes, buildings, and other structures.

If your cat ever does end up in a situation where he or she is stuck in a tree, you want to get in touch with your local tree service provider instead. 

Calling the fire department might get you referred to the tree people; the same is true if you contact your vet.

What if my pet is trapped beneath rubble?

What if your poor pet gets trapped beneath rubble during or after a fire? 

If the fire is ongoing and the rest of the fire team is working steadily to put it out, the firefighters will attempt to rescue everyone, beginning with people. If they can safely remove your pet from the rubble, they will.

If the fire has already gone out, then it’s a no-brainer that the firefighter will dislodge the rubble to help the poor kitty or puppy trapped underneath. 

This 2016 article from The Chicago Tribune shows that some firefighters will even use oxygen masks on pets that may have smoke inhalation damage, so your pet is definitely in good hands. 

What if my pet is in a burning building?

Here’s the big one. 

If your home is on fire, you might not have time to get your whole family out as well as the animals. You will request that firefighters onsite go back into the burning building to rescue your poor pet.

Whether that’s something the firefighting team can do comes down to a few factors. You see, firefighters have a hierarchy they follow when they perform rescues. 

They will always start with human victims, then animals. This can seem callous and even cold, but it’s necessary to maximize the opportunity to save lives.

If you couldn’t get your whole family out of the building before the flames started, then the firefighter’s first priority is to rescue that person or people. 

Then, if it’s still safe to do so, they’ll go in and rescue your pet.

Even if everyone is already out of the building, a firefighter can’t always go back in. 

The situation might be deemed too dangerous for them to re-enter, so they sadly have to let the pet go. It’s a gut-wrenching reality, but it does happen.

A firefighter engineer named Zachary Buhler made a statement on Quora that nicely summarizes a firefighter’s stance on the matter.

“In the context of a burning building we will generally enable a pet to make their own escape, or grab them if it does not expose any humans to additional risk of injury or death. The mentality is that we risk a lot to save a lot, risk a little to save a little. Unfortunately for Spot, Rover, or Fido as opposed to a child, if it would endanger a firefighter to save him it is not something that should be done. Ethically, one could debate this hierarchy of life concept but company and chief officers can be held criminally responsible for unnecessarily risking the well being of their subordinates.”

Even that instance of putting an oxygen mask on a dog is certainly heartwarming, but it’s not something firefighters can always do legally. 

According to this 2017 article from The Washington Post, in some states, if you don’t have a veterinary license and you administer medical care to a pet or another animal, you could face jail time or a hefty fine. 

That’s the case in Maryland as of the time of publication, says the article.

As of 2017, lawmakers in the state sought to change the rules so first responders could save animals without the risk of punishment or being sued. 

Colorado has a similar rule that’s been in place since 2014 and Ohio since 2015, and 22 other states also let firefighters care for animals. 

Although what a firefighter may do to save your pet or someone else’s isn’t legally allowed all the time, that doesn’t stop firefighters who recognize when a pet needs help. Many firefighters have quite big hearts. 

Can You Bring a Lost Dog or Cat to a Fire Station?

Here’s another scenario you may have a question about. 

Let’s say you found a pet in your neighborhood that doesn’t belong to you. You ask around town and no one else claims the animal either. You don’t think the dog or cat was involved in a fire, but can you bring the animal to a fire station anyway?

Actually, you can! 

Although it varies from fire station to fire station across the country, more and more of them have microchip readers. 

If the lost pet was microchipped, then reading the chip at the fire station will tell you who the dog or cat belongs to. You can then spearhead the effort to get the pet reunited with their owner, perhaps even with the assistance of your local firefighters.

Besides your nearest fire station, you can also take a lost pet to a veterinarian’s office or a police station to get their microchip read. 

Pet rescue organizations will do the same. FYI, a vet will not charge you for this service, so don’t delay! 

Conclusion 

Firefighters will always try to rescue pets, especially from a fire. That said, firefighters must ensure that all people are out of harm’s way first. Also, for their own well-being, the conditions must be safe enough to permit re-entry into the building.

As for whether firefighters will rescue cats from trees, it doesn’t happen very often. Remember, you’re better off contacting your tree service provider for that! 

from FirefighterNOW https://firefighternow.com/will-firefighters-rescue-pets/

Fire Engine vs. Fire Truck: What’s the Difference?

Fire engine, fire truck. The terms may seem interchangeable to you, but did you know that depending on which you say, you’re referring to two different vehicles? 

It’s true! 

So what exactly are the differences between a fire engine and a fire truck?

Fire engines and fire trucks are different in the following ways:

• Fire engines usually get to the scene before fire trucks 
• Fire engines are used for putting out fires while fire trucks are for victim rescue, roof ventilation, and controlling the fire should it grow larger
• Fire engines include equipment like hoses, pumps and water tanks (which is why they’re sometimes called pumpers)
• Fire trucks have ventilation and rescue equipment and an assortment of hydraulic aerial ladders

In this article, we’ll first explain more about fire engines and fire trucks as well as elaborate on the above differences between the two. 

Although both fire engines and fire trucks can look similar to the uninitiated, by the time you’re done reading, you’ll clearly know which is which! 

What Is a Fire Engine?

First, we’ll start with fire engines. These large vehicles are often red and sometimes go by the name pumpers, like we mentioned in the intro. Firefighters will ride in a fire engine, which has a myriad of equipment the firefighting crew will need to put out the fire. 

This equipment includes a lot of hose, a water tank, nozzles, and a pump. The pump has a capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute (GPM) or more. 

The water tank is full with gallons and gallons of water, usually between 500 and 750 gallons in all (but can be more depending on the truck).  

The firefighters will use water from the water tank to begin spraying the fire. If necessary, the engineer (also referred to as a pump operator) will also connect to an external source of water such as a fire hydrant so they don’t deplete their tanks. 

As commercial vehicles, fire engines have the chassis of such, and they also include emergency lighting as well as sirens so drivers on the road know to get out of the way.

A fire engine will also come with mobile tech and two-way radios for the firefighters to communicate with others back at base or at the site of the fire so they’re aware of what they’re walking into. 

What Is a Fire Truck?

What about a fire truck? Here’s where things can get confusing, because some people talk about fire engines and fire trucks as the same even though they shouldn’t. 

Fire trucks do admittedly look like fire engines, but fire trucks don’t always have water pumps. A fire engine must put out a fire while the fire truck is there for a different purpose. 

Since they’re not extinguishing fires all the time, they’re not smack dab in the middle of the action.

Like a fire engine, firefighters will ride in the fire truck to get to the scene. Then, if the fire engine staff needs help, the fire truck’s firefighters are ready to assist. 

Mostly though, fire trucks work to extricate victims so the fire engine firefighters don’t have to be distracted from their very important job of tamping down the blaze. 

Fire truck staff (aka “truckies”) may also provide ventilation that makes it easier and safer for them to enter the burning building or for victims to escape. If the truckies have to use forcible entry to get into a building, they have the tools needed for this as well.

Equipment you can expect to find on fire a truck and fire engine…

Thermal Imaging Cameras

As a type of thermographic camera, thermal imaging cameras are an incredibly useful firefighting tool that firefighters use often. 

The camera transforms infrared radiation into visible light so the firefighters can detect barriers, darkness, smoke, and areas of heat. This allows the firefighter to plan how they’ll enter the building and which areas to avoid. 

A firefighter will either wear their thermal imaging camera on their head attached to their helmet or hold it in their hand. 

The housing of the camera is resistant to both water and heat, so even when the firefighter enters the building on fire, their thermal imaging camera continues to work. 

The best use of a thermal imaging camera is to detect body heat, aka that which comes from a living person. 

A firefighter can rely on the camera to find victims who may be unconscious or buried under rubble and cannot escape on their own. That makes the thermal imaging camera a great life-saving measure. 

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA)

A self-contained breathing apparatus, also nicknamed a compressed air breathing apparatus, is another vital piece of equipment used by firefighters. 

There is a face piece that goes over the face of the firefighter to continuously feed them fresh air. Since the breathing apparatus is self-contained, there’s no need to attach it to a hose or another breathing gas supply other than your tank.

Within a self-contained breathing apparatus is an inhalation connection, a pressure regulator, and a tank that operates at high pressure. 

The inhalation connection is either a face mask or a mouthpiece, while the pressure regulator does what it says, regulating pressure. 

The tank produces pressure between 150 and 374 atmospheres, which is the equivalent of 2,216 and 5,500 pounds per square inch of pressure or PSI. 

The self-contained breathing apparatus may be closed-circuit or open-circuit. An open-circuit breathing apparatus doesn’t use pure oxygen, but rather, compressed and filtered air. 

The first regulator in an open-circuit breathing apparatus lessens air pressure as the air reaches the mask. Then, another regulator cuts the air pressure even more so it’s closer to atmospheric pressure.

Next, a continuous positive pressure valve or a demand valve receives the air, which the firefighter can breathe in and out. 

Curious about the differences between the valves? 

A continuous positive pressure valve keeps the air moving constantly while a demand valve only works when the firefighter inhales. 

A closed-circuit self-contained breathing apparatus uses the air the firefighter inhales and exhales on a continuous loop. 

That’s why this is also referred to as a re-breather. As the firefighter exhales, that air is first filtered, then augmented with fresh air if necessary. 

The air circulates again where the firefighter can breathe it in, release it, and the process happens once more.

If a firefighter knows they’ll be in a building for a long period, then a closed-circuit breathing apparatus is recommended. 

Extrication Tools (Jaws of Life)

Extrication tools, sometimes referred to as the Jaws of Life are a group of hydraulic-powered piston-rod tools such as rams, spreaders, and cutters. 

If a person has been in a car accident or they’re stuck beneath rubble in a burning building, the Jaws of Life are a necessity.

Specialized fluids like phosphate esters are required for the Jaws of Life, as this fluid is resistant to fire. The pistons in the Jaws of Life work opposite one another, where when one lifts, the other drops. 

A valve switch and piston cylinder control most Jaws of Life tools, the switch which is controllable by an operator. The operator also manages the amount of fluid, which is often roughly a quart used.

The ram sends a piston rod in and out to separate parts of a structure until the firefighter can get to the victim. 

Cutters made of aluminum alloy will move in a scissor-like motion, with a mouth or blades that close and open according to hydraulics. The alloy steel used to make the piston rod in the cutters is fire-resistant as well.  

If a firefighter needs to slice through rubble, car doors or parts of a building, they’ll use the cutters for the job. 

Cutters may be spreaders as well in a combination tool. A spreader will have pointed blades for locking into a building or vehicle and pulling it back to reveal a victim. 

Hydraulic Ladders

The last crucial piece of equipment on a fire truck, ladders let firefighters reach the heights necessary to do their job. 

Since building heights differ, firefighters will carry an assortment of ladders with them on the fire truck. Some of these will be powered by hydraulics to lift and descend smoothly as well as quickly.  

Besides the above, it’s also a common sight for fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and floodlights to be onboard a fire truck. 

What Are the Differences Between a Fire Engine and a Fire Truck?

Now that we’ve examined fire engines and fire trucks in-depth, it’s time to take a look at the list of differences between the two vehicles that we laid out in the intro. 

Fire Engines Arrive on the Scene First

Although both fire engines and fire trucks serve integral roles in saving lives and putting out fires, it’s more common for a fire engine to arrive first so they can begin working on the blaze. 

Minutes afterward, if even that, the fire trucks will be on the way. 

Fire Engines Put out the Fire, Fire Trucks Primarily Ventilate and Rescue

The duties of a fire engine versus a fire truck are the biggest difference. Fire engines will apply water at high pressure to the fire, extinguishing it. Sometimes a building can be saved if the blaze is controlled in enough time, and countless lives can be as well. 

As we discussed earlier, since firefighters on a fire engine work so strenuously to put out a fire, that’s their main duty. 

Compare that to firefighters on a fire truck, who have an assortment of duties. They may assist with rescuing victims of the fire both in and around the building. 

They may also ventilate the roof or other parts of the building to limit the spread of the fire and/or to make it easier to enter the building. 

Fire trucks don’t solely put out fires though. 

The firefighters onboard a fire truck can do the same, although it doesn’t happen every time. If the firefighters on the fire engine are struggling with a blaze because it’s grown larger or more unpredictable, then those on the fire truck will join in until the fire is contained. 

Fire Trucks and Fire Engines Have Different Equipment

Given their responsibilities, firefighters on a fire truck versus a fire engine will use two different sets of equipment. 

Fire trucks include rescue tools such as the Jaws of Life as well as hydraulic ladders to reach victims on several floors of a building. These firefighters also use thermal imaging cameras for assessing safe areas of a building to enter from as well as the body heat of victims. 

With a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), they can go into a burning building and continue breathing clean air. 

Firefighters who extinguish a blaze on a fire engine may use some of the same equipment if necessary, but not as frequently. 

Instead, they need high-powered water pumps, plentiful water tanks with hundreds of gallons of water, and lengthy water hoses to keep the water supply coming. 

When Do You Need a Fire Engine vs. a Fire Truck?

To further illustrate how fire engines and fire trucks are not the same, we thought we’d present a list of situations that call for one over another and even both. The next time you have an emergency, keep this information in mind!

If a Fire Has People in the Building, You Need a Fire Truck

Whenever victims are involved, it’s a good idea to have a fire truck on hand as well as a fire engine with firefighters putting out the blaze. 

The firefighters coming in on the fire truck will use the tools we’ve discussed to get into the building, remove the rubble, and bring the victims out of the building before they perish in the fire. 

If a Building Is on Fire, You Need a Fire Engine

If your building is on fire but you don’t have victims, then a fire engine alone should be suitable for the job. 

The firefighters will arrive at the scene quickly, sirens blazing, and begin using their water tank or a local water supply to spray their high-pressure hoses at the fire until it’s completely out. 

If Victims Are Stuck or Lost in the Building, You Need a Fire Truck

Most victims of fire will try to run out when they smell smoke or see fire, but not all can. Some victims can get stuck under rubble while others can get trapped in a room in the building. 

Others might get lost and aren’t able to get out even though they know where the building’s exit is.

Fire truck staff will enter the building and use infrared cameras to find the victims and bring them out while fire engine staff will continuously work to extinguish the fire.  

If a Fire Is Out of Control, You Need a Fire Truck and a Fire Engine 

Fires are unpredictable, and one that seems mostly controlled can sometimes roar to new heights if the fire finds another source of ignition. 

If even the firefighters that rode in on a fire engine are having a hard time managing the fire, then fire truck staff will join them to collectively put out the fire. 

Conclusion

Fire engines and fire trucks may refer to similar-looking red vehicles, but their duties are quite different. Fire engines have hoses with water tanks and pumps for controlling the flames while fire trucks are mostly for search and rescue operations. 

Now that you know how these trucks are different, if a fire ever occurs near you, you can appreciate the duties of a fire engine and a fire truck that much more.

from FirefighterNOW https://firefighternow.com/fire-engine-vs-fire-truck/