!!!Can PARAMEDICS Use their cell phone while they DRIVE!!!??

Question

well today i was driving and was at a red light and noticed a paramedic ambulance next to me. I saw the man driving TALKING on a BLACKBERRY CURVE!!!(yes i even saw what phone he had)...... I thought that you couldnt use your phone while driving after the *NEW* law theyve passed about being !HANDS FREE!.............To make it worst later on i saw an ANimal Control truck( looked official) with a man taliking inside on his CELL PHONE!! i mean can they do this or what????????????

Answer 1

Did it really effect you that they were talking on their phone?  How many times have you or someone you know done the exact same thing since the new law was passed there?

If they are not on a call then what does it matter its not affecting them getting a patient to the hospital in a hurry.

Answer 2

Of course he can.

You saw him, didn't you?

Answer 3

As long as they get to me on time when I am hurt, I could care less.

Answer 4

You know I think it would breach the police/paramedic trust that is established.  It's a very strong fellowship they have.

Answer 5

for one.. how many ppl do you think actually follow those dumb laws...

for two.. of all the people who talk and drive at the same time.. there are plenty who actually can do it safely..granted.. i only trust myself with a phone, since i drive manual, a lot of my time in the car i have one hand on the wheel, in an automatic.. my other hand is jsut bored.. so using that hand for a conversation isn't difficult.

and for 3. how did you think ambulance drivers and firefighters figure out which way to go? think they jsut smell fire and are led right to it?  no.. they have to use a two-way radio most of the time. which not only occupies the hand, but you have to press a button in order to talk....all in a high-stress situation...

Answer 6

yup.  There's an exemption in sub-section d of vehicle code section 23123:

"(d) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using a wireless telephone while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and scope of his or her duties"

Answer 7

Im not familiar with the laws in CA, I am from Illinois in a suburb out of Chicago.  Chicago has the law but the surrounding suburbs dont at this time.  My husband is a Firefighter and Paramedic.  They run 24 hour shifts.  Between 8-5 they are not allowed to use them.  That is a rule of the station itself, not by the city or state.  Also that rule is not specific to driving a vehicle is everything they do between 8-5.  I am sure there are exceptions to be made.  Besides, how do you know if it was or was not business related?  Sometimes rules are made to be broken.  He could have been helping someone.

Answer 8

Nope, not supposed to.

EXCEPT to make an emergency call...

Answer 9

They often relay information about the patient to the hospital this way.  The radio in the back of the ambulance has a limited range and they can get into an area where they can't get a signal out at all on the radio. It is important for them to get the patient information to the hospital so that they will know what they have coming in and be prepared to receive the patient.  For instance, if they are bringing in a patient with a heart attack they will want to have a cardiologist standing by.  If they are bringing in some one with a leg broken in three places they're going to want an orthopedic Sargon standing by.  Also, If the paramedic in the back of the ambulance has their hands full....like if they are doing CPR or something then the driver will call the hospital for them and relay the information.  If they are not on a call and just driving around or perhaps returning from a call then I'm guessing it would be as illegal as it would be for any other driver.

Laughing when contacting the hospital is not unheard of either....people can get themselves into some whacky situations some times and one just can't help laughing when relaying the story.  One time we had this guy who decided to play super man for his lady.  He dressed up in a superman suit and jumped off of their dresser (meaning to land on the bed.) smacked his head into the cealing and knocked himself out cold.  Now there's just no way of relaying that story to the hospital without laughing.  And patients themselves can be absolutely hillarious some times, especially the drunk ones.

Answer 10

Only if he was using a hands-free headset. Otherwise it's an infraction.

Answer 11

I dont think so, but officials do alot of things they shoudlnt...tell your city governement...cause if you get a ticket it pays their salary LOL

Answer 12

No they cannot do this but just like the police they are above the law and the next time you see this call 911 and report their plate number........