That has not been my experience with either Fire or EMS. Haven't read anything to make me think otherwise, either. What do you base that on?
We were taught over and over again that if a rescuer/officer got injured he/she would automatically be first ALS care and first transport. This is simply valuing one life above another.
Like you, I have never thought that either about fire/ems.
My brother-in-law is 20 yr. ems and is also swat trained because
he is sometimes required to attend swat raids as their ems person.
He is amazed at the difference in philosophy between the approach
of the law enforcement folks vs. the ems folks.
Oh, the stories I have heard...