Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott on March 12, 2009 at 5:26pm

A prime argument on why Fire/EMS & Rescue should be a combined service. One job one boss. No turf wars.
We do all services and have for the better part of 40 years.
Firefighters can do more than watch power lines and throw down oil dry. We are all min FF2 with EMT advanced. We are also growing in the number of paramedics. We do rotate from Fire to EMS in some stations depending on staffing and equipment. All of our units Fire Apparatus or Ambulances are equipped to provide BLS and if staffed ALS. No waiting for an outside or separate EMS service. This provides for better continuity of care. More than likely the paramedics brining in the patient to the ER have been with the patient since arrival at the scene and very little is lost about the patients condition or care that has been provided on the entire call.
It's all about the people we serve and what is best for them in the way of care, fire response and that we do it in a cost effective and efficient manner. Lose the duplications. We went one step farther 13 years ago and combined 7 FD/EMS Dept's into 1. Now we are more of a regional system.
Will it work for everyone or everywhere? No. But lets drop the "it's my kingdom" attitude. It's not. The kingdom belongs to the people we serve and protect.

Permalink Reply by Bull on May 28, 2009 at 8:30am

I feel that you are correct in some ways but in others, well like in my area I have alot of EMS units. We do run AED calls for unresponsive patients and will assist when EMS calls us, but to run on every EMS call wouldn't be justified and be a waste of gas and wear and tear on vehicles. Now thats for my area for others it mite be different.

Permalink Reply by Paul Everson on May 29, 2009 at 11:24pm

EMS in the fire service is the only way my job is justified. We have 4000 calls a year with 80+ percent EMS calls. The department could not get volunteers (PPC) staff to be around during the daytime hours and had to hire paramedics with fire experience. We are staffed at bare bones during the day and if a fire call comes in the PPC staff responds from home to assist us, otherwise EMS calls are handled by the FT staff. It works but with the PPC staffing dropping from year to year the city is going to have to hire more FT if they are genuinely committed to keep the EMS business.

Paul

Permalink Reply by Brian Cohen on January 24, 2011 at 1:50pm

I have seen all three services provided. As long as they do not rob Peter to pay Paul; meaning pull people off engine crews to run a bus it works great. But, if they pull people off the engine they jeopardize costing a higher PPC rate on fire protection. Co-locating is just smart, unified commanded and admin is cost effective if handled correctly. Leadership is vital.

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