why do paramedics send so many people?

Usually the people in the fire truck are "first responders". They have basic emergency knowledge and can usually get to a scene faster than a paramedic.

A paramedic rig arrives and takes over from the fireman. The paramedics do what they can to make the patient stable then transport them to the hospital where professionally trained personnel such as nurses and doctors take over care.

I'm a Firefighter/EMT in Maryland. The reason we do this is because the personnel on the Engine are not only Firefighter's but trained EMT's as well. They are able to assess the patient and begin patient care if for some reason the Paramedic's are delayed. They are also there for additional manpower. If a patient is in cardiac arrest it's much easier to have 3 people working on the patient then just the 2 who are on the Paramedic unit. This also applies to bariatric (large/heavy) patients. It's not safe to lift these patients with just two people so the Engine company assists with lifting the patient and safely getting them into the Ambulance and to the hospital.

Hope this helps you understand a little bit better.

*edit*

Woah, Nurse_33 who said EMT's and Paramedics aren't professionally trained? We work hard not only to get our inital certifications but to keep them as well. Oh wait maybe you're one of those nurses that are bitter because Paramedics go to school a about 6 months less then you, but can do alot more regarding patient care then you can...

Because depending on where you live when you call 911 you have a first responder -the fire truck and then Paramedic or emts in the ambulance. the first responder could be a few firefighters that give an assessment of the patient and scene to see what further intervention is needed, Do they need ALS or BLS- advanced life support or basic life support, advanced could be difficulty in breathing, heart attack, broken bones etc, Or basic life support could include---- I'm just not feeling well, I have a headache, I have had a cough for 2 weeks, I'm having back pain, I need a ride to the hospital lol.

I was a firefighter and when you dial 911 or whomever, we have to be first, then the ambulance follows...Sometimes we cancel the ambulance when they are not needed. I cant imagine a firetruck with more than 4 or and ambulance with 2 people...The must be doubling up where you live, sounds odd.

Must be some department policy. Maybe they've been sued in the past for some accident where they sent too few people... so now they're being super careful.