I'm a frequent browser who rarely posts on here, but seeing as how I am starting at a new volunteer FD and ambulance service (after moving out of my previous district), I figured I would ask the opinion of the experts on how to outfit my ride. A little information you should know:
1) As of now, I only have a single SNM D12 b/b. My former chief was adamant on using nothing more than a single dashlight.
2) I have a 9-mile response to the station for the FD, but I am also allowed to respond to the scene. So far, it's been about 50/50 as far as where I have been responding to.
3) I have anywhere from a 9-mile to 20-mile response to the station for the ambulance service, depending on which station is most convenient in relation to the location of the call. If I am scheduled "on call," I am obligated to respond to the station (Hey, somebody has to pick up the ambulance.
). However, if I am not on call and simply respond when the tones drop, I can respond straight to the scene. The ambulance district covers parts of 2 counties, and "straight-to-scene" response times of 20+ minutes are not uncommon by any means. I am only scheduled on-call a total of 24 hours a week, so the majority of my responses to EMS calls will be to the scene, which includes desolate country roads, small towns (populations ranging between 40 and 1000 residents) and 4-lane highways.
4) I live in IL, a blue-light courtesy state.
5) I need something that is not overdone (see #4), but also moves traffic while en-route and which provides adequate "protection" and warning when I respond to the scene.
6) My target budget is less than $750, but this is not set in stone. If I need to add to my set-up a little bit at a time, I will. I don't mind drilling if necessary, and either have the necessary knowledge to install anything emergency light related, or I know someone who does, so pretty much anything goes.
I think I have included all of the basic info. I didn't mean to write so much, but I kept thinking of more and more things to add.
1) As of now, I only have a single SNM D12 b/b. My former chief was adamant on using nothing more than a single dashlight.
2) I have a 9-mile response to the station for the FD, but I am also allowed to respond to the scene. So far, it's been about 50/50 as far as where I have been responding to.
3) I have anywhere from a 9-mile to 20-mile response to the station for the ambulance service, depending on which station is most convenient in relation to the location of the call. If I am scheduled "on call," I am obligated to respond to the station (Hey, somebody has to pick up the ambulance.
). However, if I am not on call and simply respond when the tones drop, I can respond straight to the scene. The ambulance district covers parts of 2 counties, and "straight-to-scene" response times of 20+ minutes are not uncommon by any means. I am only scheduled on-call a total of 24 hours a week, so the majority of my responses to EMS calls will be to the scene, which includes desolate country roads, small towns (populations ranging between 40 and 1000 residents) and 4-lane highways.4) I live in IL, a blue-light courtesy state.
5) I need something that is not overdone (see #4), but also moves traffic while en-route and which provides adequate "protection" and warning when I respond to the scene.
6) My target budget is less than $750, but this is not set in stone. If I need to add to my set-up a little bit at a time, I will. I don't mind drilling if necessary, and either have the necessary knowledge to install anything emergency light related, or I know someone who does, so pretty much anything goes.
I think I have included all of the basic info. I didn't mean to write so much, but I kept thinking of more and more things to add.
