CD players on the truck

[DFD17]

I was wondering if anyone has am/fm radios or cd players on the truck. I asked the chief if i could put one on the engine and he said he had no problem with it but my captain said no, so i was wondering if anyone has a radio or cd player on thier rigs and if they get used at all.

[Scuba]

We tried to order our last pumper with one... but it got cut as a cost saving measure....

New tanker should be getting one though... nothings more mind numbing and boring than driving in circles on tanker shuttles....

[ABFF37]

None on any of our rigs...the chief's vans have them just because they're vans as opposed to specialized fire apparatus...but at that they are never ever used.

When responding there's already enough noise and distractions for the crew inside the rig, there's no need to have tunes adding to the mix. Once on scene we have mobile radio that is important to monitor and we are always in contact with dispatch giving/receiving updates and so on.

When we're out and about on non emergency business, like inspections for example, again, it is important that we can easily hear dispatch that may be calling for us. This can be hard enough to hear sometimes with noisy apparatus, and when you're busy performing a duty outside the rig. I have to say I'd agree with your captain, AM/FM radios or CD players aren't needed on fire apparatus. You have one in your car, you have one at home, you have one at the hall...but I really don't think they belong on the rigs.

AB

[Rivard17_343]

Tanker has AM/FM radio and cd player
Rescue has same
Pumper has a box with mic attatched that plays scratchy, staticy transmissions and never quits!:eek: No tunes other than siren....:(

[MFDFF33]

None on any of our rigs...the chief's vans have them just because they're vans as opposed to specialized fire apparatus...but at that they are never ever used.

When responding there's already enough noise and distractions for the crew inside the rig, there's no need to have tunes adding to the mix. Once on scene we have mobile radio that is important to monitor and we are always in contact with dispatch giving/receiving updates and so on.

When we're out and about on non emergency business, like inspections for example, again, it is important that we can easily hear dispatch that may be calling for us. This can be hard enough to hear sometimes with noisy apparatus, and when you're busy performing a duty outside the rig. I have to say I'd agree with your captain, AM/FM radios or CD players aren't needed on fire apparatus. You have one in your car, you have one at home, you have one at the hall...but I really don't think they belong on the rigs.

AB

I agree with you AB, the only things we have them on are our Pickup trucks and van, and even then they are only used if we take them on trips.

[Scuba]

I have to say I'd agree with your captain, AM/FM radios or CD players aren't needed on fire apparatus. You have one in your car, you have one at home, you have one at the hall...but I really don't think they belong on the rigs.

Obviously there has to be some judgement applied in their use AB - and I agree - on an urban rig I really don't think there's time, or place for them...

However rural is a different story - Try driving in circles running water with nothing to listen to but the wheels hum for 5 or 6 hours. When used in the appropriate situation, at reasonable volume with necessary precautions there is no reason they can't be on the trucks. Ya know... we trust our lives in our brother and sisters firefighters hands - at the least I'm sure we can rely on them to have judgement as to when not to have a radio on....

[arrow]

Our newer ambulance came with an am/fm tape player(mid 90s model) The radio automatically turned off when the emergency lights were activated.

[DCharv]

Our newer ambulance came with an am/fm tape player(mid 90s model) The radio automatically turned off when the emergency lights were activated.

Maybe you got a short somewhere.. :D

The only vehicle we have a radio in is our passanger van. However it would be nice to have something in the tankers and in the rescue. As Scuba said, when you're driving in circles for 5 hours in the middle of the night it's nice to have something to listen to.

[iamvff]

We have a CD/radio in our Rescue. No go on the way to a call, but quite often we listen to it on the way home. we have some places in our area that are a 20-25 minute drive. Nothing wrong with a little tunes on the way home as long as the volume stays down enough to hear the fire radio talk.

iamvff

[ABFF37]

However rural is a different story - Try driving in circles running water with nothing to listen to but the wheels hum for 5 or 6 hours.

Is that anything like standing at the pump panel for 5 or 6 hours at a multi alarm fire with nothing to listen to? Urban or rural, our priority should be the call and the task at hand...not listening to tunes. Maybe on the way back from a call at a low volume, but as far as I'm concerned as long as you are performing an operation as a part of a call we should be 100% focused on the evolution that we are performing.

I joined the fire department with the expectation that I would be in situations where I would be without some of the "comforts" that a civilian would have at certain times. Say being out in the snow and cold in the middle of the night, or long extended work periods without breaks because of the nature of the job. I certainly didn't ever expect to have music available because it's "too quiet" in certain positions at a call. I can listen to music probably 20 out of 24 hours on any given day. As far as I'm concerned those other few hours that I'm on scene at calls my total attention goes towards my job. So if that means that I spend my whole night at the pump panel listening to the tactical radio chat and the rumble of the engine...so be it!

AB

[DCharv]

Is that anything like standing at the pump panel for 5 or 6 hours at a multi alarm fire with nothing to listen to? Urban or rural, our priority should be the call and the task at hand...not listening to tunes. Maybe on the way back from a call at a low volume, but as far as I'm concerned as long as you are performing an operation as a part of a call we should be 100% focused on the evolution that we are performing.

I joined the fire department with the expectation that I would be in situations where I would be without some of the "comforts" that a civilian would have at certain times. Say being out in the snow and cold in the middle of the night, or long extended work periods without breaks because of the nature of the job. I certainly didn't ever expect to have music available because it's "too quiet" in certain positions at a call. I can listen to music probably 20 out of 24 hours on any given day. As far as I'm concerned those other few hours that I'm on scene at calls my total attention goes towards my job. So if that means that I spend my whole night at the pump panel listening to the tactical radio chat and the rumble of the engine...so be it!

AB

So I guess that would make sleeping on the bench seat in the tanker while waiting in line to dump your water a no no too would it? :D

[ABFF37]

So I guess that would make sleeping on the bench seat in the tanker while waiting in line to dump your water a no no too would it? :D

Naaaaaaah...nothing wrong with that. Besides, it's just another reason why we shouldn't have radios and CD players in the rigs...how are you gonna sleep with all that music playing?!?

AB;)

[iamvff]

I was trying to make a call back to 911 once in our rescue on route to a MVA to try and find more info and couldn't hear a word 911 was saying because the driver decided to crank up stereo. It was so loud he couldn't hear me yelling to turn it off! I agree with AB...no radio/CD on route to or at the scene, but I have no issues with it on low on the way home as I said before. Problem is like everything else...it only take one person to screw it up by not using common sense!

iamvff

[Toxic]

I don't think they should be in apparatus. But I also wish we had one for the long ride back from calls. So I guess I'm a little torn...


Be nice to have a one of those little monitors to watch movies or music videos on while driving though(kidding).

[rescuechris]

Just wait til someone gets into an accident and it comes out that the driver was distracted cause the radio/CD player was on. Better be safe than sorry.

[Scuba]

Is that anything like standing at the pump panel for 5 or 6 hours at a multi alarm fire with nothing to listen to? Urban or rural, our priority should be the call and the task at hand...not listening to tunes. Maybe on the way back from a call at a low volume, but as far as I'm concerned as long as you are performing an operation as a part of a call we should be 100% focused on the evolution that we are performing.

Nope - actually it isn't ANYTHING like standing at a pump panel for 5 or 6 hours - and if I foudn out that my pump op was standing there listening to tunes.... it wouldn't be a pretty site lol

Who says you can't be 100% on the bubble driving a tanker in circles (note - you follow the laws, there's really no variation in what you're doing besides responding to what happens as you're driving, and listening to our comms - how exactly is a radio at a reasonable level going to hinder anything you're doing?)


I joined the fire department with the expectation that I would be in situations where I would be without some of the "comforts" that a civilian would have at certain times. Say being out in the snow and cold in the middle of the night, or long extended work periods without breaks because of the nature of the job. I certainly didn't ever expect to have music available because it's "too quiet" in certain positions at a call. I can listen to music probably 20 out of 24 hours on any given day. As far as I'm concerned those other few hours that I'm on scene at calls my total attention goes towards my job. So if that means that I spend my whole night at the pump panel listening to the tactical radio chat and the rumble of the engine...so be it!


Who says when we joined that was an expectation? Note we don't have a radio available currently. It would be nice - but I think we have, and will continue to suffer through not having one untill we do....

I'll say it again for ya AB... we trust our lives in our brother and sister firefighters hands - at the least I'm sure we can rely on them to have judgement as to when not to have a radio on....

[ABFF37]

I'll say it again for ya AB... we trust our lives in our brother and sister firefighters hands - at the least I'm sure we can rely on them to have judgement as to when not to have a radio on....

Sure...we trust our lives in our brother and sister firefighters...does that mean that screw ups never happen, and things never go bad? Do I trust the driver of the truck that I'm on to get me to the call safely? Sure. Do I trust the guy I go into a burning building with to watch out for me as I will for him? Yes! But with that being said, have there ever been accidents while responding in apparatus that have caused serious injuries or worse? Have there ever been things that have gone wrong inside a structure fire even when working with a partner that you trust?

So my point is, why should we put something into our rigs that is NOT necessary, and that may open up a can of worms...to quote two other good posts here that reinforce this theory...

Just wait til someone gets into an accident and it comes out that the driver was distracted cause the radio/CD player was on. Better be safe than sorry.

Problem is like everything else...it only take one person to screw it up by not using common sense!

I'm not going to argue with you about this, I am entitled to my opinion and I have defended it thusly. Don't start bringing up irrelevant "trust issues". They have nothing to do with the issue. The only point I'm making is that we avoid the potential for problems by not having something on our rigs that is completely unecessary. And like iamvff says, it only takes one...

AB

[iamvff]

Besides, I find that distracting, loud music interferes with our poker playing on the way to call! And thats just plain annoying!

iamvff

[Scuba]

Besides, I find that distracting, loud music interferes with our poker playing on the way to call! And thats just plain annoying!

iamvff
What about the extra draw off the electrical system.... I mean you couldn't pump the tunes and crank the green light while listening to the fire comms.... Gotta order rigs with bigger alternators now too... or just turn the two way off.... :p

I don't think we're talking about the same situations AB...no point bickering about it.

I think Arrow's got the soloution right down pat... lights on = no radio....

[FFWannabe]

I think it's dumb... sorry, articulation and I are at odds right now.

Sue :)

[BillyBlazes]

I tried to have an am/fm radio put in our new rig. This was strictly for information/news not "music". One of many recommendations from major events such as Katrina, 911, east coast blackout, was having a radio to retrieve information from outside your immediate area.
If lines of communication go down in your area you could possibly receive information from another source outside the affected area.
I agree with AB no music in the trucks, we need to be listening to the department radio at all times.

[fire16]

Is that anything like standing at the pump panel for 5 or 6 hours at a multi alarm fire with nothing to listen to? Urban or rural, our priority should be the call and the task at hand...not listening to tunes. Maybe on the way back from a call at a low volume, but as far as I'm concerned as long as you are performing an operation as a part of a call we should be 100% focused on the evolution that we are performing.

I joined the fire department with the expectation that I would be in situations where I would be without some of the "comforts" that a civilian would have at certain times. Say being out in the snow and cold in the middle of the night, or long extended work periods without breaks because of the nature of the job. I certainly didn't ever expect to have music available because it's "too quiet" in certain positions at a call. I can listen to music probably 20 out of 24 hours on any given day. As far as I'm concerned those other few hours that I'm on scene at calls my total attention goes towards my job. So if that means that I spend my whole night at the pump panel listening to the tactical radio chat and the rumble of the engine...so be it!

AB
I prefer driving any vehicle with no noise. ie- dont even know how to turn on my radio,assuming it has one. dash lights just barely visible. dont even like talking if other persons in vehicle. concentrating on the job at hand - driving! This avoids fiddlin with knobs, buttons, etc.

[Jon_ACVFD]

i think the only rig with a stereo in it is our 3/4 ton which i use most of the time to run errands and it gets taken to the odd call... i dont really see a point of one in any other rig, after a call we are usually discussing it on the way back to the hall.