Ben-Nadav Hafri

What did they say?

What did they say?

At the time, though, Beyer was blissfully unaware any of this was happening. Other jobs were keeping him very busy. But then one morning, he got a call. I had done a 6 p.m.

At the time, though, Beyer was blissfully unaware any of this was happening. Other jobs were keeping him very busy. But then one morning, he got a call. I had done a 6 p.m.

Beyer gets dressed and hurries to Dr. Hamill's office.

Beyer gets dressed and hurries to Dr. Hamill's office.

Beyer's stunned, and then he begins to lay out the case against Sirens in a very Dr. Beyer way.

Beyer's stunned, and then he begins to lay out the case against Sirens in a very Dr. Beyer way.

Beyer explained his move maybe a little inefficiently by using the equation for velocity. Distance divided by time changed to solve for time, or t. It amounted to this. If you're trying to get time down and you can't reduce the distance between you and a patient by putting more ambulances on the street because it's expensive, the easiest way to get it done is to increase your velocity.

Beyer explained his move maybe a little inefficiently by using the equation for velocity. Distance divided by time changed to solve for time, or t. It amounted to this. If you're trying to get time down and you can't reduce the distance between you and a patient by putting more ambulances on the street because it's expensive, the easiest way to get it done is to increase your velocity.

which means running your lights and sirens. But the problem is we now know that running lights and sirens significantly increases the risk of an accident. So maybe you don't want to do that either. Then the thing to do is to take a second look at T. Does time really need to come down by the small increment that we now know lights and sirens is going to reduce it? Not for most things.

which means running your lights and sirens. But the problem is we now know that running lights and sirens significantly increases the risk of an accident. So maybe you don't want to do that either. Then the thing to do is to take a second look at T. Does time really need to come down by the small increment that we now know lights and sirens is going to reduce it? Not for most things.

Beyer confronted the outrage masses.

Beyer confronted the outrage masses.

Things worked out for Bayer in the end. But I'm interested in that initial freakout, because it reveals a basic assumption people make, myself included. Everything is urgent, so we accept this social loophole where you can break all known traffic laws, provided you possess a device that emits the loudest, shrillest sound imaginable. What kind of world is this?

Things worked out for Bayer in the end. But I'm interested in that initial freakout, because it reveals a basic assumption people make, myself included. Everything is urgent, so we accept this social loophole where you can break all known traffic laws, provided you possess a device that emits the loudest, shrillest sound imaginable. What kind of world is this?

I'm not arguing that we shouldn't have sirens at all, but it seems to me that they're not only too loud and crazy sounding, but like we use them way more often than is necessary because we're unwilling to let go of them. But of course, Berrien County is just one place. Approximately 20,000 EMS calls a year. And paramedics are just one branch of the emergency service.

I'm not arguing that we shouldn't have sirens at all, but it seems to me that they're not only too loud and crazy sounding, but like we use them way more often than is necessary because we're unwilling to let go of them. But of course, Berrien County is just one place. Approximately 20,000 EMS calls a year. And paramedics are just one branch of the emergency service.

I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I was left with two big questions to answer next. Where did we get the idea that sirens are so necessary? And exactly how unnecessary are they? A Good Place to Look is the same place we fell in love with EMS once upon a time. We'll be right back.

I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I was left with two big questions to answer next. Where did we get the idea that sirens are so necessary? And exactly how unnecessary are they? A Good Place to Look is the same place we fell in love with EMS once upon a time. We'll be right back.