Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cody W. Nelson on May 11, 2009 at 5:10pm

We are a FIRE DEPT. We do not have ambulances. We have specialty rescue teams and a handful of Paramedics. We turn our eyes to the possibilities that having an EMS response would open up.

Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on May 11, 2009 at 6:47pm

Rescue is a part of what we do. We respond to all types of emergencies no matter what it is.

Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on May 11, 2009 at 7:46pm

By rescue I assume you mean ALS/ambulance transport. It runs the gamut here. My city runs FF/PM on every engine but contracts with a private company for ALS/xport. A couple of other cities have their own ambulances staffed by FF/PM. Then there is the public/private partnership in San Diego. I don't know how that works.

Permalink Reply by kyle on May 11, 2009 at 9:26pm

where i live we have seprate fire, rescue and EMS departments EMS being the only one that is paid

Permalink Reply by Tim Frederick on May 11, 2009 at 10:36pm

our department does have both fire suppression and EMS. Its a BLS crew that responds with the ambulance being dispatched

Permalink Reply by paula beckham on May 13, 2009 at 1:15am

in new zealand we are seperate however we are trained in general 1st aid and as things progress i can see a lot of crosstraining going to happen there are a few smaller stations that are set up as first responce if there is not a ambulance station within distance

Permalink Reply by nita on May 13, 2009 at 1:49am

I work for a paid municipal fire dept. in Louisiana that serves our city with fire protection and ALS/EMS transport. We are also the EMS provider for the whole parish(county). Right now we only do emergency ambulance runs.... and a private service does the non-emergency or transfer runs. We do not have separation between the fire and EMS and it is mandatory to at least be a EMT-B...and for the last 4 years they have been requiring new hires to continue all the way to paramedic. I'm a Captain/EMT-I and usually work one shift on the engine and the next shift on the ambulance...and that's what all of us do. We also respond the engine along with the ambulance. EMS probably makes up 80-90 % of our total call volume.
The rescue truck in my dept. is for MVA's and stuff and carries all of our extrication equip.
I think fire-based ems is the best and helps fire dept. budgets.

Permalink Reply by Adam Pratts on May 13, 2009 at 4:50pm

See the reason i asked Is My current department feels that you have to be " voted" onto the rescue even though our state (New York) has issued you a EMT B certification and your in good standing , I feel if the state says I'm qualified then thats all that should matter . My department feels that they have the last word of who should and should'nt be allowed to run medical calls thus you must be " voted on the rescue" so if your not part of the "clique" then you dont get in !