Jim37F
Forum Deputy Chief
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I'm working 24 hour shifts, 9-10 calls a shift a fairly regular here and that's fairly busy (though not too bad, but usually involves waking more often than id like in the middle of the night lol)
Let's see, about a minute from when the phone rings in dispatch to them assigning the call to us, add a minute if we're inside station and have to go on air, 8 min response time, that's 10 min to the scene right there. 15 to 20 min on scene, that's 30 min right there, let's assume a short transport time of 15 min, and no waiting at the destination (walk in, drop them off in a bed, grab a signature and walk out straight away) that's still approx 15 min (still have to clean and dress the gurney at minimum right?).....that puts 1 call start to finish at an hour, and that's with no delays of any kind, particularly transport and holding the wall at destination times, those two alone can easily push a call to 2 hours plus between the time the call is received in dispatch and when the crew is clear for the next run.
What's my point? Well for an 12 hour shift you're literally doing nothing but turning and burning call after call for that kind of volume (especially with the inevitable post move ups) A 24 hour shift is much more doable at 9 calls a shift. Buuuut 5 days on? That's an 8 hour shift, no way you can consistently run 9-10 calls a shift, there is literally not enough time in the day to do so. Or are you working 5x 12s? To what end? Practically living at work at that point, especially if you have any kind of commute...I was getting burned out doing 3-4 12s in a row (Mon-Tues-Wed, every other Sun) with the other 3-4 days off....There is absolutely no way working 5 shifts a week at 9-10 calls a shift is sustainable. Period.
Let's see, about a minute from when the phone rings in dispatch to them assigning the call to us, add a minute if we're inside station and have to go on air, 8 min response time, that's 10 min to the scene right there. 15 to 20 min on scene, that's 30 min right there, let's assume a short transport time of 15 min, and no waiting at the destination (walk in, drop them off in a bed, grab a signature and walk out straight away) that's still approx 15 min (still have to clean and dress the gurney at minimum right?).....that puts 1 call start to finish at an hour, and that's with no delays of any kind, particularly transport and holding the wall at destination times, those two alone can easily push a call to 2 hours plus between the time the call is received in dispatch and when the crew is clear for the next run.
What's my point? Well for an 12 hour shift you're literally doing nothing but turning and burning call after call for that kind of volume (especially with the inevitable post move ups) A 24 hour shift is much more doable at 9 calls a shift. Buuuut 5 days on? That's an 8 hour shift, no way you can consistently run 9-10 calls a shift, there is literally not enough time in the day to do so. Or are you working 5x 12s? To what end? Practically living at work at that point, especially if you have any kind of commute...I was getting burned out doing 3-4 12s in a row (Mon-Tues-Wed, every other Sun) with the other 3-4 days off....There is absolutely no way working 5 shifts a week at 9-10 calls a shift is sustainable. Period.
