Why Do Policemen Call an Ambulance a Bus in Cop Shows?

In cop shows, officers often refer to an ambulance as a bus. This nickname has a specific origin and is commonly used in certain regions to avoid unnecessary calls for non-emergency transportation. I will delve into this topic and explore the various ambulance nicknames in different regions.

Due to the frequent misuse of ambulances for non-emergency transportations, many people are aware that ambulances should only be used for urgent medical situations. Public transport options such as taxis, trains, and buses are often more appropriate for non-emergency situations. Because of this misuse, ambulances have been given the nickname bus, which highlights the fact that they are not mere transportation vehicles bus, but emergency medical services.

Why Do Policemen Call an Ambulance a Bus?

The term bus is often used by police officers in the New York City metro area. However, in northern New Jersey, where I am located, we have our own unique terminology for ambulances. We refer to basic life support (BLS) ambulances as rigs and paramedic trucks as trucks. This terminology is reflective of the specific types of vehicles used in our region. Ambulances, rigs, buses, trucks, and wagons are all terms used within our local communities and among police officers when referring to these emergency service vehicles.

One prevailing term in our community is boo-boo wagon. This term is often used in social media posts, such as on Facebook, by our local emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. For example, a EMS operator might post something like, "Duty on the boo-boo wagon tonight. Don’t make it a rough night for me… please everyone!" This nickname highlights the fact that the ambulance serves as a vehicle to transport people who are injured, whether in a skiing accident, a mountain bike crash, or any other type of incident that requires medical attention.

Rig Details and Decorations

Our local BLS rigs are specifically designed to transport patients. While some might not see a space to transport a patient in a stretcher, our rigs are equipped with such areas. Additionally, our local EMS personnel ride around in these vehicles. They often board our rigs to ride with us to the hospital. In some cases, there might be room for a cop and/or medics in the back of the ambulance with EMTs and possibly first aiders.

Interestingly, in our area, there are also skydiving incidents. One incident was reported involving a skydiver who fell and sustained severe injuries. I even found a photo of one of the aircraft, which was likely Air Three, near our local rural airport. If you are ever in our area and encounter such an incident, rest assured that our EMS personnel will be on the scene to provide necessary medical assistance.

Volunteer and Paid EMS Services

Our EMS system includes volunteer ambulance squads such as VTAS and GPVAC. These organizations work alongside paid EMS services, such as St Clare's and Atlantic Health, to provide comprehensive emergency medical care. They are dedicated to ensuring that our community receives the necessary medical assistance when needed.

In conclusion, the term bus is used by policemen to highlight the misuse of ambulances for non-emergency transportation and to emphasize that ambulances are intended for urgent medical situations. Various terms like rigs, buses, and boo-boo wagons are used in different regions to describe emergency medical vehicles, reflecting the diversity and specificity of local EMS terminology.