Yep..and theres a name for this sort of behavior..Its called Wreckless Endangerment.Which carries Civil and Criminal penalties.
And I disagree.All calls for service are Not the same.
I absolutely do not agree with the Fire Department sending his family a bill.
But when an individual or group of individuals set a dumpster on fire, make false emergency calls, and use the Fire, Police and EMS agencies as characters for their "Pranks" ; then I believe something needs to be done about it.
When you misuse Public Safety resources you endanger lives. Starting a brush fire, or setting an abandoned building on fire..... that causes six or seven departments to respond to, takes resources and manpower away from a potential serious emergency that may cause lives to be in danger.
Example (1) = Station 555 is on the scene of a fire at an abandoned building. There is a call for a cardiac arrest in their response area, but since Station 555 is on a fire ( arson ) at an abandoned building ; station 557 has to respond, and their response will take them about six minutes longer since they are responding to another stations area.
That is six minutes longer without CPR , or Effective CPR , that the patient may have not neded to suffer.
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Example (2) = Station 555 is on the scene of multiple dumpster fires ( arsons ) that are near buildings. A call is dispatched to Station 557 to respond to Station 555's area for a two vehicle MVA with entrapement. Station 557 responds, and their response time takes about ten minutes longer than it would if Station 555 had responded...because it is on the very edge of Station 555's response area. The driver of one of the vehicles is entrapped, and partially conscious from the collision. Now keeping in mind "The Golden Hour ", Bystanders stand neart the accident, gasping and waiting in "Awe" till Fire Department Personnel arrive.
EMS units beat the Fire Department by a few minutes and starts triaging the patients - and stating Basic Life Support the best they can, and await a Rescue Truck to arrive, so the one entrapped driver can be extricated.
After the patients are all loaded, the tow trucks do their job, and the scene is cleared, the citizens are in ire over the response time of the Fire Department, and all agree that the next city council meeting they will voice their concerns and demand changes be made. All are angered, not knowing that two of their fellow citizens were responsible for the prolonged arrival of a distant Fire Station....because their fellow citizens set two dumpsters on fire that were next to occupied structures. The primary station responsible for their area.....was fighting two arson fires that should not have occurred.
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Example (3) = EMS unit 555 is called to 99999 Jones Street. The EMS crew walks in the house and finds a 41 year old female complaining about pain to the left leg, it has been hurting for the past five days. She wants to go to the hospital. The EMS crew asks the woman to stand up off of the couch and walk to the cot ( EMS crew studies her walk, posture and ability to ambulate as she "walks" from the couch to the cot ). She stands up off of the couch and walks with no difficulty, no strain or stress, and does not "Protect" her left left leg, not does she "favor" her right leg. Smiling at the EMS crew she sets down on the cot and crosses her arms across her chest, awaiting for the EMS crew to strap her down on the cot. The patient, stil smiling mentions to the EMS crew that it is just such a nice day.
During transport to the hospital emergency room, the patients vital signs are found to be with in normal limits. The left leg is examined = Pulse - Motor - Sensory is normal, Negative on DCAP-BTLS and further detailed examination is unremarkable.
Upon arrival to the hospital the patient is loaded onto the hospital cot, and the EMS crew briefs the nurse on the patient, vital signs, history, leg examination. The nurse thanks the EMS crew, and as the EMS crew is finishing their documentation ( time they briefed the nurse and turned the patient over to the hospital ) the Nurse walks in and greets the patient with a warm smile on her face.
"Hi...I am nurse Avery....I will be your nurse. What is wrong with you today Ms.Cauhill?
"Well Nurse......My stomach has been giving me problems, and I feel lightheaded? Is that cute Doctor.....Dr.Kildare working today?
We all run the "Ignorant calls". But there is no excuse....ABSOLUTELY no excuse for misusing or abusing Emergency Services.
FF - Medic !!!