What does it mean when an ambulance has its lights on but no Siren??

Question

I was just wondering because I saw an ambulance assisting at a car accident and later on they left with the lights flashing but no siren.

Answer 1

My dad used to say, "The dude is dead."

Sirens are on for critical emergencies.

But once a patient has been stabilized and time is not of the essence (as much), then it's probably by driver discretion and choice, as needed for intersections and traffic conditions.

They try not to overuse the sirens because the whole purpose of a siren is to get attention... and if it's used all the time, it's like crying wolf, and pretty soon people ignore it.

Sadly, with vehicles so sound-insulated these days, most people don't even notice lights and sirens any more as it is!

Answer 2

I see that all the time- it could mean similar to what we call an "orange light"- meaning the lights are on to caution other vehicles that it is leaving the area (also like when a police car goes back on the highway after pulling somone over they dont have their siren on, but lights to warn people they are coming on). I think it also can mean that they dont have a critical patient in there- maybe they are taking someone to the hospital for a routine observation after an accident and the patient is not in a life-threating situation.

My last idea is kinda silly but possible- it could be someone with a bad head injury or severe migrane headache that cant have the siren on.

Answer 3

That the person in the back is not that bad off and they can take a little more to get to the hospital.

Answer 4

If they were leaving the scene, it probably means they forgot to turn off their lights.

Answer 5

It can mean all of the things that they have suggested.  It is not an emergency or for whatever reason there is a choice to not use the lights.  It's not normally because you forgot to turn them off as you usually can tell inside the ambulance.  Sometimes however it IS an emergency, but when someone is distressed or having a heart attack or something else the siren sometimes makes things worse.  People can be agitated and it can spike their blood pressure or make them hard to treat.  It is a judgement call.

Answer 6

lilmsgdy and oohbaby are correct

Answer 7

It either means the person in the ambulance is not critical or they are DOA (dead on arrival).

Answer 8

The victim is either already dead or doesn't have a life threatening injury.

Answer 9

It means that the person in the ambulance is not critical, but they still need to hurry and get to a hospital..so it's just a "let us through" kind of thing.