Advances in Emergency Lights
Law enforcement and emergency services have progressed significantly since 1845, when the first police department in the United States was officially established in New York City. These early police forces were mainly responsible for maintaining order and protecting the public; there were no detectives and the general organizational structure was typically military in nature. Traces of this period can still be seen in the titles used by police officers; sergeants and captains may not hold military authority today, but they still maintain the traditions and titles of those early years. It is likely that the first emergency lights were simple lanterns suspended from fire wagons or carried by police officers on horseback. These light sources served more to illuminate the path of the public safety worker than to alert the public to their presence; with the advent of motor vehicles and the increase of traffic, however, the purpose of emergency lights changed as well. Today, emergency lights are one of the most essential components of police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, and other first responder vehicles and serve to alert the public of the approach of these vehicles.
Both interior and exterior emergency lights can be used to increase visibility and draw attention to first responder vehicles. Many police cruisers come equipped with the familiar flashing blue and red emergency light bar; the colors and flash pattern displayed by these emergency lights may be regulated by local and state laws. Some police departments, including the Michigan State Police, still use the original single beacon atop their vehicles. This rotating light serves as notification to motorists that the vehicle bearing it is an official police or first responder car. Many fire departments equip light bars atop their specialized response vehicles in order to provide additional protection when en route to the scene of an investigation.
Even the most durable emergency lights can be damaged or stop working after an accident or prolonged use. In many cases, these emergency lights cannot be repaired locally, if at all. Parts can be very difficult to acquire, especially for emergency lights that were originally manufactured overseas. It is often more practical to replace the entire emergency lighting fixture with a newer, more energy-efficient LED emergency lighting solution. Extreme Tactical Dynamics carries a full line of emergency lights ranging from single beacons to elaborate light bars designed for permanent or temporary installation.
