Things you wish were common knowledge.... but aren't!

DeVore · 08-03-2009 5:24pm #1

Ok, this is just a bit of fun but also perhaps educational.

If you arent a worker in the E.S. then you probably shouldnt post on this thread. If you want to ask a question about something feel free to start a new thread for that topic specifically.

So to all you E.S. types... I'm guessing theres probably a few things you wish the general public knew about you, your job, the rules, the limits or whatever, which most people have misconceptions about or simply dont know. So, tell us

What are the common misconceptions you wish were taught in school so to speak ??

What do you wish we knew about the E.S.

DeV.

CLADA · 08-03-2009 6:39pm

Can I get the ball rolling with:

"What do you mean you need me as a witness in court?"

From a complaint about someones driving to serious assault/murder, simply reporting what you saw it to us is not sufficient. The courts require witnesses, sorry but that's the way it is.

JonAnderton · 08-03-2009 6:39pm

The contents of this forum from page 1 to end...

(particulary a couple from the past few days....;))

Many thanks

dredre · 08-03-2009 6:47pm

Arriving at an Emergency Department by ambulance does not mean you will be seen quicker.

Bang Bang · 08-03-2009 6:57pm

dredre wrote: »

Arriving at an Emergency Department by ambulance does not mean you will be seen quicker.

Defo this one.
Every shift someone calls an ambulance because of this big myth, and the look on their face when they're led directly to the waiting room to join the long queue:eek::D

Also to GP's and nurse's in GP surgeries, the Ambulance Service is not there soley to serve you, it's there for everyone else too;)

Message; "Use it, Don't abuse it..!!"

Micky Dolenz · 08-03-2009 7:02pm

Please don't call 999 unless it is an emergency.

Getting locked out of your home /car is NOT an emergency.

ScubaDave · 08-03-2009 7:11pm

If you are drunk, female and cannot get a taxi, Gardai are NOT obliged to drop you home!

Gardai CAN arrest you without wearing their hats!

and one that i feel i have to mention everynow and again,

Regular Gardai DONT CARRY GUNS!

Whitewater-AGS · 08-03-2009 7:29pm

We can use our phones while driving!

Just cause the lights and sirens aint on dont mean we aint responding to a call!

A noisy party has nothing to do with the Gardai so please dont ring us about them (unless its your party and your inviting us to it;))

I will not certify documents as being true copies of the originals this aint my job a comissioner of oaths will do this but at a fee.

Oh and one last little rant ES personal are not robots we are entitled to a break and to eat so please refrain from passing comments when you see us buying lunch:mad:

mcguiver · 08-03-2009 8:09pm

We don't know the bus numbers.

We do need to eat and drink, would you prefer me to go back to the station for lunch? or can I go to the cafe and therefore be nearer the action if I'm needed (i.e. please let me have my grub without making a stupid comment)

If we need medical assistance we will ask, do not come up to an incident, not knowing what's happening and shout "do you not know the recovery position..... every day folks, thats what we get!!

If the tape says "do not enter" ... that's what it means, your impatience could cause a criminal to get away...stay out of crime scenes!

Blue light, sirens, if they are behind you and you cant see or hear them... see a doctor, and sell your car, cos you shouldn't be on the road.

Those are prisoner meals we're getting. I you want to open a cell door to a violent person to feed them, please feel free to volunteer, otherwise let us get the prisoner meals...again without silly comments.

No I'm not sending a car to the shop cos they wont give you a refund.
I'm not calling to your landlord because your fridge is broke.

Yep, If you called, I've caught the bad guy, I do need you in court. That's the system I'm afraid...not my decision.

Thats todays rant... my apologies. It's an honour and pleasure to serve the majority of the public who are fantastic to deal with.
Please stay away from the Garda when your drunk, they are working, they do not need to have the conversation with you!!!

Shield · 08-03-2009 8:46pm

I pay my own wages too!

FGR · 08-03-2009 10:02pm

psni wrote: »

I pay my own wages too!

I love it when people who haven't worked a day in their lives say that.

johnnyrotten · 08-03-2009 10:09pm

DFB: "Fire and Ambulance Service?"
Caller: " High Can you send the Fire Nigade, I've a burst pipe?"
OR
Caller: " Theres a cat stuck up a tree"

Fire Brigade are not plumbers and The F#*king cat will come doen when it gets hungry!!!

u2gooner · 08-03-2009 10:10pm

When people dont realise that we (DFB) are Paramedics as well as Firefighters. Its amazing how people call for an ambulance for a serious case and when the Fire Engine shows up they start complaining saying ''I didnt call the fire brigade I called an ambulance'', not realising theres 5 or 6 Paramedics on board.

Oh, and about people thinking the ambulance helps them skip the queue..... Brings a smile to my face every time

Paulzx · 08-03-2009 11:52pm

Can scummers not get it into their heads that fire engines are not designed to be moving red targets for them to lob bottles, bricks and stones at.
What part of that is hard to understand?!!!!

I've a pain in my hole being bricked:mad:

FGR · 09-03-2009 12:14am

Paul.

I'm waiting for the day I catch one of our locals throwing a bottle/brick at a fire engine.

It's the day I'll start believing in Justice again.

pvt.joker · 09-03-2009 12:16am

When we're in the chipper, 90% of the time it's getting prisoner meals, so no need for the smart comments.

recharge · 09-03-2009 12:17am

When people call in a "Chinmley fire" as a "oh i think my house is on fire"

And the operator asks are they people inside??

Answer= "yes im here with uncle johnny and the dog"

Then they wonder why 4 aplicence's turn up with the sirens on and lads in BA running around

Its because you called in a house fire with persons reported you dumb .....................

CharlieCroker · 09-03-2009 1:46am

If your driving and see a load of flashing blue lights in the distance, slow down and watch out for the people in the hi-vis jackets!!!
PAY ATTENTION!!!!!
The blue lights are there to warn you, not to be stared at above everything else.
Nearly got hit 3 or 4 times last night at an accident scene cos muppets were more interested in what was happening rather than what way I was telling them to go.

jake59 · 09-03-2009 2:30am

it should be common knowledge that there are a limited number of cars/guards in each district and just cos you rang your local station with some problem you have with your neighbour it doesn't mean that a guard is going to magically appear in a puff of smoke at your door as soon as you put down your phone.... but if that does happen ... well f**kme.. get it on camera and stick it on youtube...LEARN TO WAIT!!

deadwood · 09-03-2009 2:37am

That's not a truncheon in my pocket, but yes, I am happy to see you!

flyton5 · 09-03-2009 3:16am

Arriving in the public office demanding to see the duty sergeant while highly intoxicated is a bad idea. You will be left waiting for hours.

Abusing members because you've been asked to move on is a very bad idea.

Trying to help your friend who has just been cuffed is idiotic.

No you may not relieve yourself in my hat.

Celticfire · 09-03-2009 10:22am

recharge wrote: »

When people call in a "Chinmley fire" as a "oh i think my house is on fire"

And the operator asks are they people inside??

Answer= "yes im here with uncle johnny and the dog"

Then they wonder why 4 aplicence's turn up with the sirens on and lads in BA running around

Its because you called in a house fire with persons reported you dumb .....................

If a person "thinks" their house is on fire that's really not their fault. People panic when confronted with fire. It might just be another routine chimney fire for you but not for the caller.

brayblue24 · 09-03-2009 10:34am

No, I can't turn off that house alarm.

Yes, you can take a hammer to it yourself but really that's not the cleverest thing you will do today.

No, I haven't got a master key to open all the locks in the town.

Tell the people in the bank to certify the person on the passport is you. I'm not doing their dirty work.

Yeah, I know we have very good medical cover but we pay handsomely for it.

deadwood · 09-03-2009 10:59am

happyhappy wrote: »

yes, i do have a power of arrest when you run over the canal into another garda district!!

Let that be a warning to you, Jesus.

CLADA · 09-03-2009 11:11am

deadwood wrote: »

Let that be a warning to you, Jesus.

I think you should read that again happyhappy it might have shot past you

recharge · 09-03-2009 11:40am

Celticfire wrote: »

If a person "thinks" their house is on fire that's really not their fault. People panic when confronted with fire. It might just be another routine chimney fire for you but not for the caller.

Yes but a bit of common sence goes along way. If its only a bit of excess smoke outa a chinmley.
They by the most part they have smoke alarms and if there not going off why the need for such panic.

Also by the most part, if they genuinly think the house is on fire why do they still sit in the kitchen drinking tea????

Micky Dolenz · 09-03-2009 11:48am

happyhappy wrote: »

i think you are right!

Jesus walks on water.

Good man to get off a DUI charge "its not wine Garda, it's only water":pac:

DeVore · 09-03-2009 12:51pm

Lets stay on topic

This is actually quite a good read but lets keep it neutral in tone!

DeV.

daithip · 09-03-2009 3:35pm

Remember just because there is a light on the roof of the car I'm driving does not mean it's a taxi and I have to leave you home, there is no obligation on me to do that:mad:. Should've thought of that before spending all your money on vodka and red bull and yes my taxes paid for that car as well;)

CharlieCroker · 09-03-2009 6:59pm

If you see lights and hear a siren behind you, it doesn't mean stop in the middle of the road!!!!!

kerry4sam · 09-03-2009 7:13pm

I have to admit I am enjoying reading this thread. Most of what is being posted here by serving members I have either seen first-hand being said/asked on various nights out or himself has told me about after his night shift.

Respect to all serving ES members for the tolerance, patience and decorum you show regardless of meeting people who mostly only seem to want to know things like these when they are after a few bevies :pac:

goldie fish · 09-03-2009 8:42pm

daithip wrote: »

Remember just because there is a light on the roof of the car I'm driving does not mean it's a taxi and I have to leave you home, there is no obligation on me to do that:mad:. Should've thought of that before spending all your money on vodka and red bull and yes my taxes paid for that car as well;)

We will give you a bed for the night, but its not yours, and the room service is shocking.

GAAman · 09-03-2009 8:55pm

Moreso a question but i have always wondered, is it true that if you get hit by an ambulance on call (ie with someone in back) that the ambulance cannot stop for you. The crew have to radio in another one for you?

Heard it a few times over the years was never sure

livvy · 09-03-2009 9:08pm

Answer to a question asked mainly when on traffic duties - "No - i don't have anything better to be doing"

Trojan911 · 09-03-2009 9:18pm

livvy wrote: »

Answer to a question asked mainly when on traffic duties - "No - i don't have anything better to be doing"

Or a similar one:

No, I don't have a clue who you are, but I will soon, because I need your details to complete this ticket...

daithip · 09-03-2009 9:46pm

Trojan911 wrote: »

Or a similar one:

No, I don't have a clue who you are, but I will soon, because I need your details to complete this ticket...

Or, why aren't you out there catching the real criminals?

Don't ring up the local station and say someone has thrown a parking/building cone into the road, please don't just drive by it, get out and move it yourself.

deadwood · 09-03-2009 9:54pm

daithip wrote: »

Or, why aren't you out there catching the real criminals?

"Well, if I didn't have to stop people for not wearing seatbelts designed for their own safety, I would spend a lot more time going after real criminals."

Back on topic, kind of . . .

Something else everyone else seems to think should be common knowledge is where I come from and where I live. Why are people obsessed with this?

johnnyskeleton · 09-03-2009 9:58pm

Not ES, but a few points to note:

1) When being interviewed by the gardai, you are not entitled to have a solicitor present (like in the movies). All that is required is that you get reasonable access.

2) You can be detained in a garda station for a longer period of time if you are caught with fireworks than if you murder someone.

3) You are not entitled to elect to give a blood or urine sample instead of a breath sample if you are arrested for drink driving. You can only ask.

4) If you are convicted in the district court you have an automatic right to bail if you appeal to the circuit court, no matter what the offence or punishment.

5) If you don't show up for court after being given bail, that in itself is a criminal offence.

6) You are not automatically entitled to remission of a prison sentence, it's only given for good behaviour.

7) Mandatory sentences lead to more acquittals.

8) Victims of violent and sexual crimes are entitled to address the court when the offender is being sentenced, and this often results in a longer sentence.

9) Road traffic offences ARE criminal offences.

10) The average life sentence is usually around 12-14 years, with 9 being the bottom end and the rest of your natural life at the top end.

11) If you kill an off duty garda it's capital murder.

12) On duty emergency services drivers are exempt from all road traffic law except drink driving, dangerous driving and related offences.

eroo · 09-03-2009 9:58pm

deadwood wrote: »

Something else everyone else seems to think should be common knowledge is where I come from and where I live. Why are people obsessed with this?

You've mentioned a gin palace.. Hell that's got me curious!

parsi · 09-03-2009 10:07pm

deadwood wrote: »

Something else everyone else seems to think should be common knowledge is where I come from and where I live. Why are people obsessed with this?

Irish people are obsessed with knowing your background & antecedents so that they can place you in their scheme of things -

"Do you remember Biddy Mc Mc who married Johnny Two-Eyes from Ballybackwards ? Well he's their son".

Therefore it pisses off folk when you're not local. I suppose it's a country (close communities) thing really.

ScubaDave · 10-03-2009 12:39am

Another one....

Just because we turn on the blue lights whilst in traffic, does NOT automatically mean we are sick of waiting. We probably got a CALL!

And yes..... the handcuffs could be tighter!

Whitewater-AGS · 10-03-2009 4:57am

Dont call me sir i'm not a school teacher and dont call me officer I dont work in a prison, Garda is fine though.

Dont piss on a busy street i'll happily do you (or the side of a church as i seen in saturday nite)

Please when coming to a checkpoint have your window down cause if you roll up to me and stop with the window up i see this as being very rude and will check every aspect of your car and yourself

Again drunks and gardai dont mix, drunks dont know when to shut up or that swearing at a garda is going to get you arrested.

vasch_ro · 10-03-2009 12:45pm

johnnyrotten wrote: »

DFB: "Fire and Ambulance Service?"
Caller: " High Can you send the Fire Nigade, I've a burst pipe?"
OR
Caller: " Theres a cat stuck up a tree"

Fire Brigade are not plumbers and The F#*king cat will come doen when it gets hungry!!!

AGS : Garda Emergency how can I help you ?
Caller : My car is on fire/ my house is on Fire

hunnymonster · 10-03-2009 1:23pm

Whitewater-AGS wrote: »

Please when coming to a checkpoint have your window down cause if yor roll up to me with the window up i see this as being very rude and will check every aspect of your car and yourself.

So you want me to stop safely (change down gears, break, check behind me, apply hand break etc,) and roll down my window at the same time. I'd rather not knock you down thanks very much so I'll stop first, then roll down my window when it is safe to do so. By all means check everything if that's how you want to react but it seems silly to confuse safety with rudeness.

johnnyskeleton wrote:

12) On duty emergency services drivers are exempt from all road traffic law except drink driving, dangerous driving and related offences.

I've wondered about this one a couple of times during conversations with FS drivers as they are still driving on their own licenses in the trucks. Could you provide a link if you have one?

source · 10-03-2009 2:37pm

hunnymonster wrote: »

So you want me to stop safely (change down gears, break, check behind me, apply hand break etc,) and roll down my window at the same time. I'd rather not knock you down thanks very much so I'll stop first, then roll down my window when it is safe to do so. By all means check everything if that's how you want to react but it seems silly to confuse safety with rudeness.

I think what whitewater is talking about, is the type of people who just pull up and leave the window up, if that happens, i generally go to the window and ask the driver to pull the window down,as it makes me suspicious that they may have a few drinkies on board and may not want to talk to me in case i smell it.

hunnymonster wrote:

I've wondered about this one a couple of times during conversations with FS drivers as they are still driving on their own licenses in the trucks. Could you provide a link if you have one?

it's spread over the road traffic legislation. www.irishstatutebook.ie

eroo · 10-03-2009 2:56pm

Whitewater-AGS wrote: »

Dont call me sir i'm not a school teacher and dont call me officer I dont work in a prison, Garda is fine though.

To be fair, it's better people call you any of the above than something worse!:pac:

Do agree with you though, I don't ever call a Garda a police officer, cop etc. The title is Garda!

CharlieCroker · 10-03-2009 4:10pm

If your approaching a checkpoint and a Garda puts his hand up for you to stop, don't stop 10 feet away from him and expect him/her to walk up to you.
Doing that for 50 different cars can be fairly annoying.

msg11 · 10-03-2009 4:12pm

foinse wrote: »

I think what whitewater is talking about, is the type of people who just pull up and leave the window up, if that happens, i generally go to the window and ask the driver to pull the window down,as it makes me suspicious that they may have a few drinkies on board and may not want to talk to me in case i smell it.

I always though it was better to leave the window up. Cause if I pull up the checkpoint with my window down, I would look like I want to chat about something, then the Garda would be like I wonder what. Then pull me in.

And can't emergency services text while driving?

Good reading!

SV · 10-03-2009 4:34pm

CharlieCroker wrote: »

If your approaching a checkpoint and a Garda puts his hand up for you to stop, don't stop 10 feet away from him and expect him/her to walk up to you.
Doing that for 50 different cars can be fairly annoying.

cos you end up 500feet away from where you parked the car?

sorry for going OT.

seamus · 10-03-2009 4:48pm

CharlieCroker wrote: »

If your approaching a checkpoint and a Garda puts his hand up for you to stop, don't stop 10 feet away from him and expect him/her to walk up to you.

Not ES, but can I just say that if you stand to the offside front of a car, it makes me worried that I'm going to run you down. Either stand right in front of the car, or out of the way altogether. In the former case, I can stop in front of you. In the latter case I can pull up beside you. But if you stand at my front offside bumper, I'm terrified of hitting you!

TheNog · 10-03-2009 5:09pm

Standing in front of an approaching car is a big no-no. Its the biggest no-no of all time. If a driver wants to a run a checkpoint, believe me its more common than you think, the last place you want to be standing is in front if it!!!!!!

Things you wish were common knowledge.... but aren't!

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