r/Firefighting • u/Obviouslythrowaway_- • 3d ago

General Discussion Fire vs Fire/EMS Departments

What has your experience been in either department? All I keep hearing is guys complain about how EMS departments are dreadful and miserable but get paid more. When, in my area I hear that the big City (fire only) gets paid the most and has the best benefits. Have I been lied to this whole time? Are there ANY benefits to EMS departments?

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u/MisguidedMuchacho 3d ago

I feel like departments that do both should draw the line on EMERGENCY medical services. Patient transports and non-emergency calls should be routed to an ambulance service. That would likely help with some of the EMS burnout.

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u/1chuteurun 2d ago

Id love to see it, but I was pretty surprised to find out, when I first joined, private services are way overworked and understaffed as well. No department wants to accept liability for turning down calls.

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u/MisguidedMuchacho 2d ago

Not saying that a dept should turn down a call but that’s what dispatch is for. We are in an area where if you need more than a bandaid, you’re a 30-40 minute ride to the nearest hospital. The nursing home and assisted living used to get all their patients lined up at 7-8am and then call for transports which was putting multiple units out of the area all at the same time for extended periods. That can be managed. It’s never perfect... I’m just saying you have to try to prioritize when you have resource constraints. But it also takes people working together and that’s easier said than done too...