Research on EMS and Engine co-response on medical attention calls.

[Manny Cereceres]

Hello, I need to know if anyone might have information or know of a single document that confirms the benefits/advantages of responding to a request for medical attention with an engine and ambulance (co-response)? Any information is helpful...thanks

[Capt Lee]

If your with the IAFF, have your officers contact them. There is an abundance of info for you. If not, you might try anyway. They may be willing to help you out.

[Lieutenant Gonzo]

In my community any 911 emergency call gets a FD response with the nearest Engine Company (all FD personnel are trained to the first reponder level, 85% of the Department are certified at the EMT-B or EMT-D levels). Transport service are by a private company (AMR) and ALS services are provided by UMass/Memorial. The system works pretty well, we have our disagreements at times, but that is to be expected.

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We boldly go where no one else dares...
take care and stay safe
Lt. Gonzo

[This message has been edited by Lieutenant Gonzo (edited April 06, 2000).]

[phyrngn]

My department has 14 Engine Companies. Each is staffed 24/7 with a Paramedic. Our Engines respond first due on all medical calls in the city. The current private provider is Squirrel-Retro, whom we are not happy with. We have an average response time (Engine Co) of 3.2 minutes anywhere in the City, which, if you read ACLS books and other things, would prove to be fairly beneficial in order to boost Cardiac Arrest Save rates and such. Unfortunately, there is a heated political battle ensuing, as we are attempting to provide our own FD Ambulance Service in conjunction with American Medical Response (As R/M didn't want to play nicely anymore). R/M has the doctors on there side (because they own 49% of the local franchise), and the doctors are trying to make standards for the FD Medics that are Unattainable except for a select few and the R/M Medics. In addition, the R/M medics are Lead paramedics...we get pushed aside when they arrive. We hope to be able to function as Medics and provide rapid ALS, but right now, it isn't looking good.

Fire Service EMS...First There, First Care...

The reflections above do not necessarily represent the organizations with which I am affiliated...(even though they really do, I don't want to get in trouble)

[phyrngn]

My department has 14 Engine Companies. Each is staffed 24/7 with a Paramedic. Our Engines respond first due on all medical calls in the city. The current private provider is Squirrel-Retro, whom we are not happy with. We have an average response time (Engine Co) of 3.2 minutes anywhere in the City, which, if you read ACLS books and other things, would prove to be fairly beneficial in order to boost Cardiac Arrest Save rates and such. Unfortunately, there is a heated political battle ensuing, as we are attempting to provide our own FD Ambulance Service in conjunction with American Medical Response (As R/M didn't want to play nicely anymore). R/M has the doctors on there side (because they own 49% of the local franchise), and the doctors are trying to make standards for the FD Medics that are Unattainable except for a select few and the R/M Medics. In addition, the R/M medics are Lead paramedics...we get pushed aside when they arrive. We hope to be able to function as Medics and provide rapid ALS, but right now, it isn't looking good.

Actually, to answer your question, I don't know of a single statistical document, but I do feel that it is just good common sense to have FD response to EMS. Anybody who doesn't feel that way is probably close to retirement (as well they should be.)

Fire Service EMS...First There, First Care...

The reflections above do not necessarily represent the organizations with which I am affiliated...(even though they really do, I don't want to get in trouble)

[FireMedicHarding]

My department took over ALS in our district about 3 years ago. We have been building our number of paramedics since then and it is working well. At the onset, the decision was made to place our engine companies in service ALS and leave the ambulances BLS and this works great. Our only downfall right now is a double engine response when we have a district engine go BLS.
This just means more manpower who can and have been released very quickly when the need arises. This has prevented our paramedics from winding up on a BLS transports when ALS is needed and another district or mutual aid has to be pulled.