The city of Philadelphia, as you might have heard today, is investigating why a woman who called for assistance on 01JAN08 at 0236. The 1st due engine and ladder responded to her aid and a medic unit from another local was dispatched due to a high call volume that this city has every year on new years eve into new years day. Well The first medic unit for some reason broke down while enroute. The next medic unit to get dispatched to this call was not anywhere near the scene. The Next unit was coming from South Phil. whlie the call was in the NE section. By the Time the unit arrived on scene it was to late to resusitate the pt. The initial call -- Chest pain with shortness of breathe! The local engine and ladder did all the could when they arrived on scene. The EMS side of the PFD is mismanaged and they knew that the call volume on this night is always high for the city, it's been like that for the past someodd years. So why wouldn't they add more units on this night. Mix up EMT's and Medics instead of duel medics. This way the medics have more of an area to cover. The city has 45 EMS service vehicles and only 28 in full time use. 1 unit is committed to the Philadelphia International Airport and guit a few of the medic units have been turned into basic units. They need to figure out a way to better provide the citizins of this city with a better means of the emergency medical services. I know firsthand that their are many residents in the city that have turned away from calling 911 but in fact they are calling private ambulance companies to go to the hospitals. Please comment back and let your friends know so that they can comment aswell.

Thanks

Steve