A Donegal Councillor called for fire brigades to attend all road traffic accidents where emergency calls are made for ambulances.
Inishowen Cllr Martin McDermott put forward a motion to Donegal County Council to ask the HSE to change their protocol so that when an emergency call is made for an ambulance to attend a car accident that the fire brigade is called out at the same time on all occasions.
The council said such protocol is not the best use of resources and could result in deaths and injuries elsewhere.
Currently, the fire brigade response to a road traffic collision is only required in cases where for example casualties have to be extricated, vehicles are on fire or there is a leak or spill of chemicals.
Cllr McDermott took issue with the response of the council.
He said: “There have been car accidents that, when the ambulance arrives at the scene, is it not possible to take people out of the car and the fire brigade has to be called.
“If it happens where the fire brigade is 20- 25 minutes away it could have serious implications for the patient.”
“At any point in a car accident the vehicle could go on fire.”
The council said fire brigade intervention is not always required and to mobilise a unit each time an ambulance attends a collision is not the best use of resources.
The reply said that if a brigade is dispatched to an incident where it is not required it may not be immediately available to respond to an incident that requires its intervention.
“This could result in loss of life, injury and increased property damage.”
Cllr McDermott cited recent incidents where the fire services were necessary to rescue people involved in car accidents.
He said the fire brigade are often looked upon as the last unit to be called to the scene. He suggested asking the HSE to speak to the National Ambulance Service so that when a call is made the question of whether a fire brigade is required is clearly addressed.
“We had two accidents in the last six months where people were stuck cars and the ambulance came and could do nothing. They have to call the fire brigade to get people out of their cars,” Cllr McDermott said.
Chief Executive of Donegal County Council Seamus Neely said the council will ask the Chief Fire Officer to engage with the HSE on the matter.
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