elwoodward
Marksman
Many private services contract out their service to 911 and even if there is a 911 EMS and private ambulance service if the 911 service is busy their runs will be transferred to the next available service/ambulance.When I wrote it I figured someone would take issue. I wasn't firm in the belief but left it there for discussion. Good points Bill. The reason I backed away from private transfer services is that they don't tend to be summoned to private homes. I guess they could be now that I think about it. The OP asked about EMTs as "first responders" which an EMT as a private service is not. They are a medical taxi service. I likened that to any other delivery service personnel and as such we shouldn't push for that at this point.
Now, if I call Rural Metro as a private citizen to drive me somewhere, I can see how that is outside what I was intending because I'd be summoning them to some location.
Also what if a tornado went through Seymour and all the Jackson county ems ambulances were busy? they would call for mutual aid from as many ambulance services they can get. The point i am getting to is looting could start within hours of the disaster and what if the ambulance was to pull up to a house hear screaming and a group of guys with a gun carrying a safe out of a house across the street decides there is my get away vehicle or they carry drugs in their lets get them. I want to be able to protect myself if i work for a EMS or non-emergency ambulance service.