audio system and ambulances

Basically I was listening to my system at a pretty high level, 1000 watts to subs and 80 to mids and tweeters.. you get the picture anyway while my music is blaring, i was crossing an intersection and almost got t-boned by an AMBULANCE! there was no way for me to hear the siren as the music level in car far surpasses an oncoming siren. I was driving and once i entered the intersection i looked right and left, the ambulance speeding down to my left, so i sped up and missed it by about 3-4-5 seconds to impact. Now my question, have you guys ever run into a situation like this? if so what preventative measures can i take to avoid such events where my system impedes on my judgment. i love my system and it is always on and running before i start driving, so obviously turning it off is not an option as i spent too much time and money on it to not enjoy it. radar detector or something? what do you all think?

Speak up, I can't hear you. I have been listening to my system kind of loud, now I have trouble hearing. So what were you saying again?

At least if you got hit by an ambulance there would be EMTs on the scene quickly............Think. It's not illegal yet.

On a bad day I turn up the volume too, spend more time checking mirrors and sides, like fighter pilot looking for target, not really safer...................