06/02/2026
🚑Caring for our patients, and providers!🚑
At Plains EMS, our commitment has always been to two groups of people: our patients and our providers.
To better protect the men and women who answer the call for help every day, Plains EMS has recently implemented two important safety policies.
The first is a new Lights and Sirens Response Policy designed to reduce the use of emergency driving when it is not clinically necessary. This follows a growing national movement within EMS to reduce unnecessary lights and sirens responses. Research has shown that lights and sirens often save very little time sometimes, as little as 42 seconds, while significantly increasing the risk of motor vehicle crashes.
Since relocating to the east side of town, we have witnessed numerous situations where motorists, attempting to react quickly to an approaching ambulance, unintentionally create hazardous conditions at intersections and roadways. Nationally, motor vehicle incidents remain the leading cause of death and injury among EMS professionals, accounting for approximately 45% of line-of-duty fatalities.
We want our community to know that this change is NOT about downplaying emergencies or delaying patient care. Every call is important to us. This policy is about ensuring our providers arrive safely so they can deliver the care our patients need. The safest ambulance is the one that makes it to the scene.
The second policy focuses on protecting our crews from violence. Nationally, violence against EMS personnel by patients or members of the public accounts for approximately 18% of line-of-duty deaths and injuries. To help address this risk, Plains EMS has obtained four Multi-Threat Protective Vests that can be deployed when crews encounter potentially dangerous situations.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Oxy for fully funding this project through a generous grant. Their support allowed Plains EMS to acquire this critical protective equipment at no cost to our taxpayers. While no piece of equipment can completely eliminate danger, these vests provide an added layer of protection and may give our providers the extra chance they need to return home safely to their families.
Thank you for trusting Plains EMS. Our mission remains unchanged: providing the highest quality emergency medical care while ensuring the safety of the professionals who serve this community every day.
