Silent Running
911 Responses – You may not hear us coming… But you can still count on us being there when you need us!
Count on the BVFD to swiftly respond to all 911 calls. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t always see the flashing lights and hear the siren. The Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MCFRS) recently implemented some changes to enhance overall community safety.
Significant research has demonstrated an increased risk to the community and EMS providers, having ambulances always respond with lights and sirens.
When seconds count, like a choking child, a patient requiring CPR or defibrillation, we will still respond in “emergency mode” with lights and sirens. However, there will be calls in which MCFRS instructs us to respond without lights and sirens. This is called a “Cold Response” and prevents local drivers from feeling pushed out of the way for stable patients (such as a sprained ankle or an inter-facility transport from a skilled nursing facility). The difference between a “Hot Response” with lights and sirens and a “Cold Response” is typically 45 – 120 seconds. MCFRS dispatchers will carefully screen all calls to determine which response is warranted given the nature of the emergency and risks involved in the response.