Having started as an emergency responder in the dark ages vehicle electrical systems do not keep up with the full electrical needs of the unit. Agency heads in many cases buy low bid batteries that cannot carry the load. A number of times I have had to jump start private ambulances at accident scenes because of dead batteries.
I gave my patrolmen a second ignition key so they could lock the door of their idling unit. Our fine citizens have been known to steal emergency vehicles.
The life cycle of an automotive battery in an emergency vehicle is short. Many fire engines which have room have two or more batteries. Low bid batteries go fast.
Large SUV and pickups have room for two batteries. I had my last two or three vehicles setup with dual batteries. One battery was dedicated to vehicle starting.
Agencies cannot afford to update radio systems every two or three years. The transition from analog to digital is getting rid of many old radios. Some of the smaller departments were using 30-yearold radios.
Fire Department and law enforcement units at times have more than one radio because of mutual aid agreements. When radios are scanning more than one frequency
Before the medical aid became the primary activity of fire departments equipment had time to recharge on an in station charger. A deputy I knew quit law enforcement to become a medic for a large County Fire Department. He soon found it to be an exhausting 24-hour shift; the primary calls were from the elderly and delivering new citizens into this country. His paramedic unit with dual batteries never had time to recharge between runs.
Fire equipment is expensive and maybe on the line 25 or more years. Electrical and cooling systems may not keep up with demands. A vapor lock can shut down a piece of equipment and has cost wildland fire fighters their lives because they were not able to escape from the fire. Structural fire fighters face the risk of buildings collapsing on their equipment or a fire extending to a propane tank or natural gasoline. When needed you want to put the rig into gear and go.
I started issuing extra keys after a couple of Mexicans stole one of my patrolmen’s unit. He had left his vehicle radio on PA when went over the road bank with a first aid kit. The people from the vehicle over the bank had already made it up the hill and hide. The vehicle over the bank was later determined to be stolen.
It is very costly, equipment savings on the frontend of lowest bid public safety equipment has big down the road cost, from fuel, oil change frequency, wear and tear on components. I am sure the many experts have practical answers, and are currently hammering out letters to their city, county, state, and federal departments heads demanding high output electrical systems, and oversized cooling systems for emergency equipment.
I was following the turmoil in a large city council when the City fire Chief recommend the replacement of a 40-yearold ladder truck, and a couple of old engines. The City was unwilling to replace the equipment that was down more days then up. One engine had chronic brake problems which resulted in a major law suit. When the old equipment broke down they had to have broken parts customed manufacture.
It is very costly, equipment savings on the frontend of lowest bid public safety equipment has big down the road cost, from fuel, oil change frequency, wear and tear on components. I am sure the many experts have practical answer
