A North Wildwood spouter thought there was something unusual about the FD dispatching a ladder company along with an ambulance on medical calls: This is actually the norm in most places, and engine or ladder companies with medically trained firefighters, usually EMTs, respond first on EMS calls in probably most of the cities in the U.S. It provides extra trained manpower at the scene of a medical emergency who can help with anything from lifting and moving to performing CPR.