HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/2011 03Cii Response to Greg Weedin re: Why the Fire Department Responds to Medical Calls ,.r
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT /I
Item Ne? u ' •
For Meeting of: December 6, 2011
warimemminensommaaragna
ITEM TITLE: Response to Greg Weedin's request regarding why the Fire Department
responds to medical calls.
SUBMITTED BY:
CONTACT
PERSON /TELEPHONE:
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Resolution Ordinance Other (specify)
Contract: Mail to:
• Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date:
Insurance Required? No
Funding
Source: Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: '.6 City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Click to download
O Chief Willson's response
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WHY DOES A FIRE ENGINE RESPOND TO MEDICAL •
CALKS IN YAKIMA?
FACTS:
• A city must have a certain number of firefighters to fight fires depending on •
the size of the City. In the City of Yakima five companies respond to each
• structure fire as a minimum. It takes this many to save a house from burning
to the ground.
• The firefighters are strategically placed in the city to reach a residence in
about four minutes.
• Firefighters reach a patient before an ambulance at least 50% of the time.
• Ambulances respond with 2 and sometimes 3 persons. It takes six persons
to take care of a critical (advanced life support) patient such as a heart attack.
Extra manpower is needed for extrication and patient handling.
• Sometimes there are no ambulances available in the city because they are out
of town or transporting other patients.
• There is no appreciable cost savings to the citizens if the Fire Department
does not respond to medical calls.
• The Fire Department does not compete with private ambulance companies.
•
W
I
e actually subsidize these companies with needed manpower as stated in :
bullet point #3.
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IT MAKES SENSE:
As long as Firefighters are on duty, they may as well perform as many ' 7 • n
services as possible for the same cost.
• Firefighters arrive in a fire engine which is licensed as a medical aid vehicle.
n If a fire occurs after the medical call, Firefighters can respond directly to the
fire rather than return to the station to change apparatus (a working fire
occurs every 68.5 hours on average)
• Firefighters can use the same apparatus for multiple types of response rather
than purchase a different vehicle for fires, medical calls, auto accidents,
grass fires, special rescue, etc.
" • You should be glad to know that Firefighters are racing to the scene of your injured or ill loved one on every call. You pay their wages, they want to earn 2.
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