Why is a firetruck called out to attend a death scene?

[jimintoronto]

I live near a 55 and older complex and the fire / paramedics in separate truck come often ....
i always noticed when or IF they transport they have the extra fire crew to help lift the gurney especially if patient is large.
4 (or more) guys lifting instead of two struggling makes sense but i do wonder all the back and forth for non emergency calls etc....

Most Paramedic Ambulances now have "electric lifters " that eliminate the need for a 4 man lift. The Stryker medical equipment company, along with others, make a patient bed that is powered by a built in electric motor, that is operated by a remote control device, similar to what you use to change the channels on your home TV. Small town volunteer groups may not have the budget to afford such an item. I worked in the old long ago times, when every lift was a dead lift, from the ground, into the back of the van. The old model Ferno Washington gurney weighed 75 pounds EMPTY, then add a 250 pound patient to the load, then carry that load down from the third floor in an old building with no elevator..... JimB.

 

[debodun]

When I slipped on ice back in February 2008 and broke my left fibula, the surgeon that set it wanted me to stay overnight in the hospital (I am still puzzled about that over such a simple procedure, unless something occurred during it that made him antsy). Well, the place where the surgery was done and the hospital was about 3 miles, so I had to ride in an ambulance. Let me tell you, it was like having the Three Stooges transport me. They couldn't get the gurney legs to fold up to fit in the back of the ambulance. The banged it up and down on the road pavement, the when they didn't work, they kicked it. I can tell you, having those jolts wasn't a pleasant experience. I surprised they could find the hospital. Five weeks later I received a bill from them for $300.