Paramedics transporting critical patients with lights and sirens is a topic of significant debate within the emergency medical services (EMS) community. The use of warning lights and siren (L&S) by EMS vehicles is considered a fundamental aspect of emergency response and patient transport ("Use of Warning Lights and Siren in Emergency Medical Vehicle Response and Patient Transport", 1994). However, guidelines recommend that the use of lights and siren during emergency medical transport should be reserved for situations where improved response time can enhance the patient's chances of survival or quality of life (Mueller & Stanley, 2013).
Studies have shown that the use of lights and sirens can help reduce total transport time, especially when transporting critical patients (Becker & Hugelius, 2021). Nevertheless, there are concerns about the risks associated with lights and siren transport, including increased dangers for EMS personnel, patients, and bystanders (Bertholet et al., 2020). Research indicates that ambulance personnel involved in transportation accidents have higher fatality rates, with emergency driving conditions, including lights and sirens, posing particular risks (Grundgeiger et al., 2014).
Furthermore, the appropriateness of using lights and sirens for non-trauma patients has been questioned due to the limited time savings and the increased risks involved (Bertholet et al., 2020). Unnecessary use of red lights and sirens in pediatric transport has also been highlighted as a concern, with a percentage of patients arriving in ambulances running red lights and sirens (Burns et al., 2016).
In conclusion, while the use of lights and sirens can potentially reduce transport time for critical patients, it is essential to balance this benefit with the associated risks to EMS personnel, patients, and the public. Guidelines emphasizing the judicious use of lights and sirens for situations where it can significantly impact patient outcomes are crucial to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of emergency medical transport.
References:
- Use of warning lights and siren in emergency medical vehicle response and patient transport. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 9(2), 133-136.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x00041030
- Becker, J. and Hugelius, K. (2021). Driving the ambulance: an essential component of emergency medical services: an integrative review. BMC Emergency Medicine, 21(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-021-00554-9
- Bertholet, O., Pasquier, M., Christes, E., Wirths, D., Carron, P., & Dami, F. (2020). Lights and siren transport and the need for hospital intervention in nontrauma patients: a prospective study. Emergency Medicine International, 2020, 1-6.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2651624
- Burns, B., Hansen, M., Valenzuela, S., Summers, C., Otterloo, J., Skarica, B., … & Guise, J. (2016). Unnecessary use of red lights and sirens in pediatric transport. Prehospital Emergency Care, 20(3), 354-361.
https://doi.org/10.3109/10903127.2015.1111477
- Grundgeiger, T., Scharf, M., Grundgeiger, J., & Scheuchenpflug, R. (2014). Manual distractions of ambulance drivers. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 58(1), 1134-1138.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931214581237
- Mueller, J. and Stanley, L. (2013). Predicting use of lights and siren for patient illnesses. Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology, 03(03), 63-68.
https://doi.org/10.4236/ojsst.2013.33008