Sirens at 11.30PM

[JumboBeef]

Martin_M said:

Thanks for the info - interesting reading. I'm not sure if the Scottish Ambulance Service pays their paramedics as well as the South Western Ambulance Service does as any time I looked at adverts etc. the top end wasn't even close to £35k I don't think. Ever since paramedics saved the life of my 10 year old little cousin who had a blood clot on the brain in the early hours, I have always said that you guys should get a lot more.

I would have liked to see the ambulance service offer an accelerated promotion scheme much like the police. Whilst learning on the job must be invaluable, having to start as a technician must put some people off I would have thought.

What is your rapid response vehicle? I live across the road from a senior ambulance service employee who has an unmarked honda crv with lights/siren etc.

That will be an ASM (Area Service Manager). Mostly office based, but attending the bigger jobs such as large RTCs etc, to oversee as an officer.

Paras are (generally) Band 5 which, at the top with your unsocial hours enhancements (working nights/weekends) goes to £35k (you can hit £50k if you want to get the overtime in).

NHS Scotland pay bands are very slightly higher than England Wales. Google NHS Pay Bands.

Scotland is recruiting now:

http://www.scottishambulance.com/WorkingForUs/Vaca...

for Trainee Technicians (band 4), which leads onto the Paramedic role.

[Issi]

The OP is also on another thread stating that a cyclist who is knocked off his bike when a car passenger opens his door, is also wrong.

I think there's something a little bit wrong with him, but I do admire his dexterity with the head dobber he's using to type with.

[Asterix]

Build a massive speed bump where the light is the worst.

[Hooli]

oyster said:

The OP may have phrased it a bit wrong, but his point is valid. And indeed re-enforced by several emergency drivers on this thread.

It does seem though that it's the police who prefer to have sirens on at night rather than ambulances.

I'll vote for that.

We used to live almost next to Doncaster police station, Ambulances could manage to use the road past the plod shop when in a hurry & on blue lights with a rare use of the siren. Plod needed the siren on just to exit the car park. Now the answer we came up with was that plod are so dim it's so they don't run each other over...

[markmullen]

Issi said:

I think there's something a little bit wrong with him, but I do admire his dexterity with the head dobber he's using to type with.

[Sheepshanks]

karona said:

The police, however, hope that the protagonists in a chav punch-up will hear the sirens and break it up before they arrive.

I live in a rural area which suffered a spate of thefts - I was quite surprised to hear one of the parish councillors say it was pointless calling the Police as the sirens could be heard a couple of miles away giving the thieves plenty of warning. He thought the Police did it on purpose, too.


Whenever I'm in London I'm always struck by the constant noise from sirens that goes on right through the night - to a much greater extent than in other major cities, even New York.

[Robatr0n]

Issi said:

The OP is also on another thread stating that a cyclist who is knocked off his bike when a car passenger opens his door, is also wrong.

I think there's something a little bit wrong with him, but I do admire his dexterity with the head dobber he's using to type with.

Almost every thread he pops up in he posts Daily Wail links too.

[boyse7en]

Sheepshanks said:

I live in a rural area which suffered a spate of thefts - I was quite surprised to hear one of the parish councillors say it was pointless calling the Police as the sirens could be heard a couple of miles away giving the thieves plenty of warning. He thought the Police did it on purpose, too.

Our local bobby, Larry, used to wait until he'd finished his pint before he would go and sort out the occasional fights in the village - "Things should have calmed down by then"

[Alucidnation]

markmullen said:

Issi said:

I think there's something a little bit wrong with him, but I do admire his dexterity with the head dobber he's using to type with.

[silverfoxcc]

this goes past first world problems

its the first My self centred world problem

[lbc]

stuart313 said:

is there really any need to make such a racket

The only person making a racket is you.

Now be quiet and buy some ear plugs.

[stuart313]

So the experts say I'm right and the know it all's say I'm wrong, never have guessed that one.

[Chebble]

stuart313 said:

If they turn the sirens off they can still use the vehicles you know, its not like it disables the engine. So you are saying I have to be woken up every single night for the rest of my life because scum bags do what they want? It not always circa 11PM either sometimes its 3 or 4 in the morning.

I'm well aware of that you sarcastic bag of whinge. However, whilst you or I may notice a myriad of flashing blue lights approaching, there are plenty of bad drivers who could obliviously pull out, and as such, need as many cues as possible to tell them that a vehicle is approaching at speed. Couple that with that fact that if there were an accident, without sirens, you could bet your house that there would be a huge payout coming their way. Would you risk your livelihood as an emergency response driver to avoid waking someone up? I doubt it.

stuart313 said:

I wouldn't mind but I have never called the emergency services in my life, its always the tts that don't contribute to it that monopolise it, no wonder they are bankrupt.

Good for you. Let's hope you never have to. Whilst I agree that there are plenty of 'tts' that waste valuable resources, it won't be the case 100% of the time. Don't let the fact that you live near a rough area cloud your judgement (although it seems the horse may have bolted on that one). I doubt you could say with absolute certainty that it wasn't anything that deserved a swift response - it wasn't necessarily just some scrotes fighting in the street, it could have been anything.

stuart313 said:

So the piss heads and knife scumbags aren't the selfish and inconsiderate ones then? Nice.

I don't think that, and I didn't suggest it, so don't twist my point to suit your skewed logic.

stuart313 said:

I wouldn't mind, if you get burgled the police wont even come out it seems yet if bizzer and bozzer are fighting in the street the police cant wait to get down there for a ruck.

Personal experience? Or pure conjecture? Whilst I'm positive that will have happened somewhere at some point, I'd wager that they respond pretty quickly to a serious threat like that in most cases. I've never had to, but I know people who have had a quick response, luckily.

Issi said:

The OP is also on another thread stating that a cyclist who is knocked off his bike when a car passenger opens his door, is also wrong.

I think there's something a little bit wrong with him.

I've seen that thread. It does make you wonder about some people, doesn't it?

stuart313 said:

So the experts say I'm right and the know it all's say I'm wrong, never have guessed that one.

...and that just sums up your narrow mindedness - you aren't prepared to take on board any argument against you, in fact you actively disregard it, and instead use it to affirm your self belief that you, Stuart313 are completely in the right on this.

[Greendubber]

Great thread.

Do you complain about the police helicopter making noise as it searches for burglars or vulnerable missing people?

You could always buy a house that's not near a sthole

[JumboBeef]

Move to Kennington?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/167047/Police-sir...

Seriously though, I rarely use sirens at night. Once I get to about 10pm I (almost) never use them, I just slow down a bit when approaching a hazard.

I only use them if some muppet really hasn't seen the approaching festival of very bright blue and white lights and there might be a risk of a collision.

Edited by JumboBeef on Friday 3rd July 08:23

[Greendubber]

A

JumboBeef said:

Move to Kennington?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/167047/Police-sir...

Seriously though, I rarely use sirens at night. Once I get to about 10pm I (almost) never use them, I just slow down a bit when approaching a hazard.

I only use them if some muppet really hasn't seen the approaching festival of very bright blue and white lights and there might be a risk of a collision.

Edited by JumboBeef on Friday 3rd July 08:23

Its the pedestrians that are the issue in my experience, randomly walking out without paying any attention.

A colleague of mine sadly killed a pedestrian that stepped out on him, had he NOT had his sirens on he'd have been in the st and maybe sent to prison as well as being flamed in the media.

So sorry if it wakes anyone up by my career and safety of the public is more important than someone getting woken up for a few seconds as I pass their house with sirens on.

[JumboBeef]

I'm in two minds about what you said about pedestrians. Yes, they can step out.....but I slow where there are/might be hazards, rather than put the siren on (at night) for unseen hazards. I only use the siren when a hazard (be that person, car or dog/fox etc) is heading into my path and, although I can stop/go around, I want them to move so not to hinder my path. But I make sure I can stop.

Sirens don't always work anyway, pedestrians can be deaf, drunk, listening to headphones. I'd rather slow and not hit a pedestrian rather than kill someone and use the siren as a defence.

This isn't a criticism of your colleague as I don't know all the story.

Edited by JumboBeef on Friday 3rd July 10:37

[BertBert]

But if you don't think they have seen you you would put sirens on. They'll probably look up at you. Or they may not. You then adjust your driving plan accordingly. I don't see why you wouldn't use sirens at that point as it is very likely to improve safety.
Bert

[Rude-boy]

JumboBeef said:

Move to Kennington?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/167047/Police-sir...

Seriously though, I rarely use sirens at night. Once I get to about 10pm I (almost) never use them, I just slow down a bit when approaching a hazard.

I only use them if some muppet really hasn't seen the approaching festival of very bright blue and white lights and there might be a risk of a collision.

I live in the middle of a nice little market town with Fire Station and Police Station within 1/2 mile of my house as the crow flies.

You can hear the sirens quite well during the day when they go out for a shout, once it gets to about 9 on a school night and 10-11 on a weekend they rarely ever use the sirens (you can only tell they are there due to the mobile blue light disco bouncing off the walls of buildings), save perhaps a quick note or two when approaching a fairly major traffic light controlled junction.

I suspect that there are different 'standing orders' within individual areas of the services as to correct use within the law and regulation and that these vary.

[HantsRat]

Rude-boy said:

I suspect that there are different 'standing orders' within individual areas of the services as to correct use within the law and regulation and that these vary.

There are no rules/laws as to when you can and can't use sirens. It's just common sense not to use them if you don't need to at night. If approaching junctions etc then they are still needed at night even if you cannot see a vehicle.