medic car

[brvfd3]

I have a question, what do you think about a fire dept. having a medic car. Our dept. runs about 200 calls a year and we run first responder calls in our first due. The ambulance that responds is BLS only so if we need ALS we have to call for another ambulance. We wanted to make our unit ALS, but when we requested it they didn't want us to do it. So now the regional ems cooridnator might not let us become an ALS unit. What our your thoughts and what can we do to become one.

[ncfd933]

From a legal standpoint, getting a "Medic Car" is going to be just like "upgrading" an ambulance to ALS. The proper drug licensing is going to be needed in either case. Has your reg EMS coordinator already okayed the Medic Car? I can't see how anyone would not approve an ALS upgrade and then approve a second EMS "Medic Car" vehicle. Get some numbers on how many of your calls require or should be with ALS. If all else fails, educate your citizens in your coverage area and get them behind your "ALS push". The problem is that most people don't know what ALS can do. I applaude your commitment, keep on striving. ncfd933 Ohio

[brvfd3]

ok , of the 200 calls 103 were ambo.assist and about 35 to 40 needed ALS response. The ones that don't want us to become ALS is the ambo that is only BLS. They say we don't need to because we our a fire dept. not an ambo service.

[FF.FOREVER]

1. How about puting an ambulance under the fire dept or contracting out to an als service. I see you said that the ambulance that respond is an bls ambulance. Have you noticed or ems calls increasing? By puting an ambulance under the fire dept you can bring the reveniue back into the town.

2. If you contract out to private als service see if they will help you guys get linsenced up to the level you desire. Where I live there is a private als service. If you contract out with they provide you a first-responder vechile and all the equipment and training you need just for choosing them to provide a transporting ambulance for your town. Something to think about

[EMT832]

Instead of worrying about getting a first response vehicle to assist the ambulance, upgrade the ambulance to ALS.
As far as the ambulance telling you that you do not need to become ALS b/c you are a FD. listen to them. THYey are responsible for EMS while the FD is rtesponsible for Fire/rescue, you do first response to assist the ambulance. The point of an ambulance is not to bring in revenue, it is to give emergency care to those in need. If you are interested in money try a different line of work. brvfd3, you need to give more facts, how far away is the hospital? How many calls does the ambulance run all together? What type of service provides ALS in your county? Do you respond on every call? Maybe, if providing EMS is such an issue to you, you should join the ambulance.

[brvfd3]

ok they are not an ambulance company they are a FD with a ambo.The ambo that runs the calls run about 150 ambo calls a year and about 100 in in our area.We tried to join there but their bylaws say you can't be a member of both companies so they told us that we couldn't join. we would have to quit our station if we wanted to join. The ALS company is a paid fire dept. about 6 miles away. Also we do not charge and don't plan to charge. on about 15% of the calls the don't have any EMT"S so we have to supply them with one of our and they get all of the money.Hospital is about 6 miles away.We have one medic all ready in 4 in the class and one or two others want to take it.

[EMT832]

Thanks for clearing that up. Since you cleared the training hurdle, you should start lobbying your community as to why it is important to have an ALS unit. It might be easier to start a BLS unit and work in ALS over time. Who provides medical direction? There is no reason why your fire company should not start an ambulance. If the ambulance cannot get members to fill the call 15% of the time, the person in need is not getting appropriate care. The ambulance sounds very stubborn. Tell them you would rather work together than see them go under and try to work it out keeping the pt. in mind not some BS polotics about you can't be a member of two organizations.