--- title: Response Time Challenges for First Responders/Rescue Drivers description: Read the following blog post to learn about the average response time to emergencies and how Onspot helps! image: https://intblog.onspot.com/hs-fs/hubfs/North_America/Blog%20Images/Pictures%20for%20Blog%20Content/ambulance-architecture-building-263402-195950-edited.jpg --- [![](https://www.onspot.com/imagevault/publishedmedia/ewjmu1x672ip2pj4oovu/Onspot_Logo.png)](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/) - [Why Onspot](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/why-onspot/) - Knowledge - [Overview](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/knowledge/overview/) - [Ways to increase traction](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/knowledge/ways-to-increase-traction/) - [For fleet managers](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/knowledge/for-fleet-managers/) - [For drivers](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/knowledge/for-drivers/) - [For mechanics](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/knowledge/for-mechanics/) - [Rules & regulations](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/knowledge/rules--regulations/) - [Knowledge Center](https://knowledge.onspot.com/en-us/knowledge-center-for-winter-driving-and-traction) - The product - [Overview](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/overview/) - [Testimonials](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/testimonials/) - [FAQ](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/faq/) - [Documents, manuals and brochures](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/documents-manuals-and-brochures/) - [How it works-videos](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/how-it-works/) - [Measuring forms](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/documents-manuals-and-brochures/sales-brochures2/) - About - [Overview](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/about-onspot---about-us/overview/) - [History](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/about-onspot---about-us/history/) - [News & Press releases](https://blog.onspot.com/news-press-releases) - [Regional Manager Contact](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/about-onspot---about-us/regional-manager-contact/) - Blog - [Blog articles](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us) - [All about automatic tire chains](https://knowledge.onspot.com/en-us/all-about-automatic-tire-chains) - [Traction aids for heavy vehicles](https://knowledge.onspot.com/en-us/traction-aids-for-heavy-vehicles) - [Support](http://support.onspot.com/en-US/) - [E-Training](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/e-training/) - [North America](https://onspot.com/?s=false) - [Contact us](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/contact-us/) # Response Time Challenges for First Responders/Rescue Drivers Written by [Maritza Hernandez](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/author/maritza-hernandez), May 3, 2018 The most widely used response time standard in the United States is the National Fire Protection Association’s [NFPA 1710](http://www.iaff.org/et/pdf/NFPA_1710_10.pdf) which requires “the arrival of an ALS (Advanced Life Support) company within an [eight-minute response time to 90% of incidents](https://www.emsworld.com/article/10324786/ems-response-time-standards).” This standard resulted from a 1970s cardiac arrest survival study by two Seattle physicians. **Response Time is a Sum of its Parts** Although the specifics of response time standards vary widely, the total response time can be split into three phases: ***Dispatch*** – This is the time elapsed from when an emergency call is received, entered and the rescue unit is notified. ***Turnout*** – The time when the rescue unit is notified by an alarm and begin travel time. ***Travel time*** – The time from when the responding unit is en route (traveling) to their arrival on scene.  **How can response times be reduced?** Due to the sheer number of variables such as whether there is access to modern EMS/Fire systems or not, regulations and laws, rural/urban areas, economics, topography and weather conditions, there is no one simple answer to reducing response time. However, addressing identified issues is critical to ensuring the safety of the community when dangerous situations arise. *Dispatch time* can be affected by poor training of dispatchers unaware of the closest rescue units wasting precious minutes or if there are no mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns. In this phase, the time saving potential is all about how the dispatcher identifies the location, the exact nature of the incident, and notifying the appropriate unit accordingly. In this case, modern technology can contribute to reducing dispatch time with timely access to pertinent information. *Turnout time* reduction is about the human factor – awareness and behavior. Constant training and drills, unit routines and attitudes affect the reaction time from notification to leaving the station en route to the incident scene. *Travel time* can be affected in numerous ways and for many reasons. The universal factor affecting travel time is heavy traffic whether it be a highway accident or slow-moving livestock on a rural road. Also, remote rural areas can affect travel time due to long distances to the incident scene. Driving fast may be the most intuitive way to reduce *travel time, h*owever, it may not be the best idea since high speed could increase the risk of *causing* an accident. Also, driving fast in extreme winter weather conditions is never a good idea. **Response Times in Winter Weather Conditions** Despite all the advances in technology, sometimes common sense and the correct tools for the situation are all you need to do your job. On slippery roads, simple tire chains could be the most effective tool for making your way. Further, using [automatic tire chains](https://www.onspot.com/en-US/the-product/overview/) to avoid manual mounting time could be the key to saving critical response time – and possibly lives – at a fraction of the cost. Also, the driver will not be at risk outside of the vehicle because he/she can engage from inside the cab. At the end of the day, responding to an emergency is about arriving at the scene safely and on time. Icy, snowy roads may keep most people safely in their homes, but first responders are duty bound to respond no matter the weather conditions. [![How to Measure Your Vehicle](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1905643/5f3fc409-ea4e-42bb-8af2-a20cc784db32.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1905643/5f3fc409-ea4e-42bb-8af2-a20cc784db32)   [Rescue Driving](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/topic/rescue-driving) [Rescue Vehicles](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/topic/rescue-vehicles) [Application](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/topic/application) ![Maritza Hernandez](https://intblog.onspot.com/hubfs/Blog_images/Persons/Maritza.jpg) #### About [Maritza Hernandez](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/author/maritza-hernandez) Maritza was the Marketing Coordinator at Onspot of North America. She was with Onspot for many years and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Investigative Services. She moved from Connecticut to Indiana in 2016. When she is not working, she can be found reading, walking her dog Petey or discovering the sights and sounds of Indiana. ## Comments ### Subscribe to blog updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [automatic tire chains (66)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/automatic-tire-chains) - [Commercial Driver (43)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/commercial-driver) - [Fleet Managers (38)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/fleet-managers) - [onspot (37)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/onspot) - [driver safety (29)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/driver-safety) - [Rescue Driving (28)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/rescue-driving) - [Rescue Vehicles (25)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/rescue-vehicles) - [Slippery Roads (24)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/slippery-roads) - [traction (24)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/traction) - [icy conditions (22)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/icy-conditions) - [School Bus Safety (21)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/school-bus-safety) - [Fleet Maintenance (20)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/fleet-maintenance) - [Fleet Productivity (20)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/fleet-productivity) - [Improving Fleet Productivity (20)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/improving-fleet-productivity) - [Improving performance on icy roads (20)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/improving-performance-on-icy-roads) - [Maintenance (20)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/maintenance) - [Automatic Snow Chains (18)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/automatic-snow-chains) - [For Mechanics (18)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/for-mechanics) - [Response Time (17)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/response-time) - [tire chains (17)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/tire-chains) - [Automatic Tire Chains and Alternatives (14)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/automatic-tire-chains-and-alternatives) - [Engineering (14)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/engineering) - [school bus driver (14)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/school-bus-driver) - [All about automatic tire chains (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/all-about-automatic-tire-chains) - [Application (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/application) - [Fire Truck (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/fire-truck) - [School bus driving (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/school-bus-driving) - [Traction aids for heavy vehicles (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/traction-aids-for-heavy-vehicles) - [Truck driver safety (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/truck-driver-safety) - [e-training (13)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/e-training) - [Commercial Drivers (12)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/commercial-drivers) - [Winter driving tips (12)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/winter-driving-tips) - [improve performance on slippery roads (12)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/improve-performance-on-slippery-roads) - [snow chains (12)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/snow-chains) - [Innovation (10)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/innovation) - [Snow chain (10)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/snow-chain) - [Delivery (9)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/delivery) - [Traction aid for heavy vehicles (9)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/traction-aid-for-heavy-vehicles) - [improving uptime (9)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/improving-uptime) - [Ambulance (8)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/ambulance) - [Automatic Tire Chains Explained (8)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/automatic-tire-chains-explained) - [Onspot service (7)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/onspot-service) - [Winter equipment (7)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/winter-equipment) - [Schedule (6)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/schedule) - [Response time – a challenge for the rescue driver (5)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/response-time-a-challenge-for-the-rescue-driver) - [modern technology (5)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/modern-technology) - [Black ice (4)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/black-ice) - [Content for commercial drivers (4)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/content-for-commercial-drivers) - [Driver Recruitment and Rentention (4)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/driver-recruitment-and-rentention) - [Expediter (4)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/expediter) - [fleet efficiency (4)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/fleet-efficiency) - [4x4 (3)](https://intblog.onspot.com/en-us/tag/4x4) - [5 ways to improve uptime of your fleets! 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