Emergency Responders?

**Epidemic79** · 12-May-2010

We always see and speculate about what happens with Law Enforcement and Military personnel in Zombie movies,novels,comics and fan fiction.

But what about all the other 1st Responder types? Basically EMTs and FIRE DEPARTMENT???

I know a lion's share of Paramedic & Hospital personnel are gonna get chomped in the first 24 to 48 hrs. But what about the Fire Dept? They would at least have a fighting chance,having axes,pry bars,and hell even there fire hose could be used as a weapon in a pinch!

I wonder at what point would the survivng crews say enough is enough and begin to Stop responding! Evetually they are gonna throw in the towel. Individuals at first,then small goups begin to desert and bug out to save their familes,just any one else mite do.

**Legion2213** · 12-May-2010

I'd expect fire fighters to continue until they can no longer be protected by the police/military...can't expect them to perform a dual role of fire fighter and zombie killer.

**paranoid101** · 12-May-2010

I think most will try to return to their family's when it really hits the fan.

Of cause being first on screen there a good chance of being infected straight away.

I would also expect most Hospitals, Police and Fire Stations to be over run in the first few days (hours even) of it all going bad and not just by zombie, but by lots of scared people.

**Epidemic79** · 14-May-2010

Well,I actually never thought of this one before,but how about holding up inside a Fire Station???

Thats something a little more original for us to play with there. They are usually sturdier than your average building,especially the older ones from back in the day,pre 1950s.

**sgrosse** · 14-May-2010

I just happen to be wrapping up my EMT-I coursework(will be taking the NMRET's in July) so I thought I would chime in on this one.

First and foremost, an EMT or Paramedic will not enter a scene unless the area has been deemed safe by a Police officer. As far as my understanding goes, I do believe that the same rule applies to Fire(Im talking about hostile patients and the like) So, if the were talking about post-zombie arrival, than every scene involving any kind of ceasation of life would have to be cleared by PD before ems were to move in.

As for an emt trying to resucitate a corpse, a couple of things, if CPR were being iniated, than the emt would be in a extremely vunerable position if they are doing so on scene and not in an ambulance.

If it were to occur in an Ambluance, most protocol's call for the patient to be secured on to a stretcher or in case of tramua, imobolized onto a long board. If reanimation were to occur on an ambulance than the corpse would more than likely be secured to a stretcher or longboard.

So, yea, EMT's and Paramedics would be vunerable initially and on scene definitly. but after that, there are steps already in place to reduce that particular threat.

K, I have to run. Take care all.

Stephen

**Epidemic79** · 14-May-2010

Cool,thanks Stephen!

I was really hoping there was a real deal medic on here somewhere. Great to have a pro's insight. We dont usually see much screen time for Rescue types in zombie movies.

Thanks again.

**sgrosse** · 15-May-2010

lol if there were a zombie movie based on medics it would be a very short one.

Dispatch: Medic 1 please respond hot to a patient who is unresponsive.

Medic 1: Copy Dispatch, has PD cleared the scene?

Dispatch: Negative Medic 1.

Medic 1: Notify PD dispatch.

Dispatch: Copy.

Five minutes later

Dispatch: Medic 1 please disregard call, patient reanimated and was lethaly subdued.

Medic 1: Copy dispatch, Medic 1 back in service.

Cue Romero credits.

**Epidemic79** · 15-May-2010

I can only imagine the stress and knawing frustration that Medics would go threw in this scenario. There job is save lives,and the dead rising issue aside,but the non stop bombardment of emergency calls coming in. You could never respond to them all. At what point will the teams begin to crack?

Just imagine the chaos and knowing that when you head out to the next call,that your team actually gets smaller every time you respond.With the casulaties the Undead are inflicting upon your EMT/Fire Dept crew every place you stop to try to do your job.

**Wooley** · 16-May-2010

One thing to remember is many fire fighters are duel qualified as EMTs and respond to medical calls as well. When I took my EMT course back in 2000, I was one of the few who wasn't a fire fighter there. The others were 'first responders' which is basically an advanced first aid course, and were upgrading their certifications.

Next, I imagine water services in many cities will fail very soon after the power does and when that does, the hydrants will run dry. No water=no fire suppression. Fires will rage out of control, ignited by any number of ways, from candles used as light getting tipped over, to Molotov cocktails used to combat the dead to the disposal fires lit to take care of the unmanageable numbers of corpses to dispose of.

Also, during the LA riots and other civil disturbances, the police/military have escorted fire engines and ambulances on calls as well as provided security for their facilities. Once that security blanket is stretched too thin, the fire fighters are going to arm themselves, if they don't right away due to necessity.

Some firefighters and EMTs, as well as cops, water and power workers, hospital staffers and other key skilled people have talked about when they'll leave on some survival boards I've read-most say when they know staying at work is a losing cause, due either to an eminent loss of security, lack of supplies, or similar.

So I figure when the last straw is going to be when the hoses run dry and the ambulances don't have anywhere to drop off their patients, then anyone left alive at their posts are going to pull a Kenneth from Dawn '04 and just think about their own asses.

**Epidemic79** · 16-May-2010

Great point on the city water systems running dry. And when the power begins to go out,thats gonna bring down a whole new dimension of doom.

I've been thru several major power outtages,one particular one about 2 summers back was crazy. My entire niegborhood grid was zapped. Pitch black for at least 1 square mile in every direction. Homes,buildings and street lights.Everything went still,quiet,and,well,DEAD-lol. And that one was only about 4 & a half hours.

Now ampilify this into our kind of scenario. Imagine the shit hitting the fan,Police and other emergency vehicles speeding all around,mad traffic in the streets and clogging the overpasses,dead corpses laying all over the ground,corpses up and walking about,random gunshots,multy fires of various sizes spreading,smoke in the air,the smell of gasoline and other chemicals,helicopters buzzing around.

Then Wham-the power goes out,and a shrieking choir of panic screams fill the air!

**zombieparanoia** · 18-May-2010

The firefighters would also be the best protected, bullet proof vest be damned, I'll take a full fire entry suit thank you very much. try biting through that you zombie assholes.