By Akilah Davis | ABC11
The News & Observer
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — Wake County may reduce the number of EMS calls that crews respond to using lights and sirens in an effort to reduce crashes
“Red lights and sirens response for first responders is very dangerous,” Wake County Emergency Medical Services Director Dr. Jon Studneck said Monday.
| NEXT: Culture shift: Reducing lights and siren vehicle operation
According to Wake County, the EMS department has had 21 lights-and-sirens accidents since January. There have been no significant injuries, but two ambulances have been totaled.
Eighty percent of EMS calls receive a lights and siren response. The new method would mean only 20 calls of every 100 would receive a lights and siren response. County leaders said response times for all incidents average 15 to 17 minutes.
Commissioner Shinica Thomas had concerns about this proposal’s impact on response times for less serious calls.
“For lower-acuity calls, we could end up with response times for someone to get an ambulance as long as 60 minutes. So, an hour?” she questioned.
Studneck said Thomas was correct.
“If you’re the person with a broken leg and in pain, 60 minutes is going to feel like a really long time,” said Commissioner Vickie Adamson.
County leaders said this plan could be phased in. The idea is to work with community partners, including 911 centers, first responders and local leaders, to help navigate this shift in policy. The issue of response times kept resurfacing.
The full county board will weigh in on this plan. Community informational sessions have also been scheduled. This proposal could be completely implemented by March 2026.
Does your department or agency use a reduced level of response to reduce the risk of crashes?
EMS1 readers respond
“Sounds like driver training is needed. EMS is an emergency medical service, not a non-emergency transport service. The very nature of the trained professionals in an ambulance is to provide emergency, stabilizing medical treatment and preparing the patient for the emergency room. I was a law enforcement officer for 32 years in south Florida, no crashes while running code, this is about training.”
“High speed lights-and-siren should be reserved for life threats. That constitutes about 20% of most EMS systems’ calls. Most calls, lights-and-siren response saves a couple of minutes. Not worth risking the lives of the ambulance crew when getting there a little sooner makes no difference in outcome. A good prioritization system should be used.”
“When I broke my femur, EMS was there in 15 minutes. That was due to the fact that they were in quarters at the time. I was so relieved!”
©2025 Raleigh News & Observer.
Visit newsobserver.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
