I was in a parking garage over the weekend when my exit was held up by a woman in a SUV who took about five minutes to make all he turns necessary to back into a parking space. I was thinking why not just drive in straight? Why do you have to be parked for the quick getaway? It can’t be harder to back out then it is to back in.
While watching this and shaking my head, I was reminded of many times over the years, I have been driven lights and sirens hurtling through traffic to provide light-saving care (or not) to people who called 911 in distress, only to have to wait while my partner executed the same multiple turns to back into the driveway for the planned getaway.
This has never made sense to me. We drive lights and sirens for one reason -- to get to the patient more quickly. We drive to the call with lights and sirens far more than we drive away lights and sirens. So why do we delay arriving in order to park the car for the getaway when we seldom need the quick departure? Why not just drive in straight and back out later after the emergency is over?
I have wanted to write about this for awhile and since now I am either in a fly car or have partner du jour, I run no risk of offending any current partner.
I am mild-mannered and easy-going. If something bothers me, I tend to not let it show. But now after all these years, here it is: Park the damn ambulance already!
