Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Farmmom Said it...

After reading (and finally getting time to discuss with me) the collaboration post between BabsRN , Ambulance Driver and MattG Farmmom said to me:

"You know, the only way that could have been better, is if they'd had someone in Traffic Control collaborating too."

She's right, too. The things that we have to deal with at the scene of a wreck within our zone sometimes touch on what the cops or paramedics have to deal with as well, but they're often entirely different.

'Course, I've had state troopers tell me they were glad the accident happened where it did, because this way, *they* didn't have to deal with traffic.

Thanks, bud, I appreciate that. Meanwhile, I'll go back to telling a string of pissed off truckers that the fastest way to get to where they're going is to detour seventy miles out of their way, and then backtrack that same seventy miles when they hit the interstate......

4 comments:

Barbara said...

Yeah, but at 0300 on a rural road, traffic control consists of a cop with a flashlight waving people on. ;)

FarmGirl said...

Unless the accident happens in a construction zone. Then traffic control consists of a fairly large team of flaggers, half of whom are terrified, grossed out, and/or have NO idea what to do... until the supervisor tells them.

Anonymous said...

Well, lately I've had little patience or empathy for truckers, since we're working single lane closures on the Interstate for less than 24 hours. Only one out of 100 slows down in the work zone. The rest pass us at 70 mph and faster. I wonder if they would drive that fast if their spouse and kids were standing 2 feet from the centerline?

Dan O. said...

First thing I do if it looks bad enough as I roll up on scene is get a fire truck parked across the road on both sides of the accident. THAT is traffic control.

Otherwise, since usually only one trooper is there, and he or she is busy working up sketches and measurements and getting statements, the firefighters handle traffic.

And if "handling" it means shutting down the road for safety or just because we're short handed (all volunteer dept.) then that's what is done. It's the fire IC's (Incident Command) call until all threats to life and property are taken care of, at least here in Ohio.