Firebug030
12-02-2002, 12:35 AM
Deltona puts firefighters, paramedics on bicycles
Sunday, December 01, 2002
By JEANNINE GAGE
Staff Writer
DELTONA, FL -- There's something powerful about an ambulance or firetruck coming down the road on the way to a call. Darting in and out of traffic, sirens blasting, horn blowing, cars and people moving out of the way. It all but screams "help is on the way!"
Deltona Fire Department Division Chief David Faer takes a more subtle approach. He and his team of three emergency medical technicians and paramedics go to scenes quietly . . . on bicycles.
Last month, the department trained four staff members and bought two bikes to create what Faer said is the first fire department bike unit in Volusia County. "Police officers do it," Faer said. "We figured we could, too." Of course, Faer and his team are not dispatched on emergency calls when, no matter how hard they pedal, a motorized vehicle would get there first. Instead, they go where agility is an asset, like crowded festivals or gatherings. "We're going to use these bikes when firetrucks and ambulances have limited access," Faer said. "The response time of the bikes can be much better in situations like that."
And don't think the bike officers aren't prepared for emergencies, Faer said. They carry advanced life-saving equipment in 50-pound packs on the back of their mountain bikes. A defibrillator, various narcotics and intubation kits are all part of their lifesaving arsenal. Faer decided to look into adding two-wheelers to the department's vehicle fleet after falling in love with bike riding when his wife and kids bought him a quality bike for Father's Day this past June. "I'm just like anybody," he said. "When I see a police officer on a bike, I say Holy cow, how neat is that?' After I started riding, I thought it would be a good thing for the department."
Engineer and Paramedic Adam Bengelsdorf, who has been an avid off-road biker for years, also thought the bikes would be an asset to the department. "Things are changing, there's always new things going on," he said. "I just thought this would be something else that would enhance our services." Faer, Bengelsdorf, Emergency Medical Technician Michelle Holt and Paramedic Danny Bowen took a 40-hour class in Orlando given by the International Police Mountain Bike Association to learn how to do their jobs on a bike.
Even an experienced rider like Bengelsdorf needed to learn how to handle his -- he flipped it wheel over wheel once in training. "It's a whole new ball game with all this additional weight," he said. While the training and equipment bring additional cost to the department, Faer said the bikes save money in the long run. "I'd say we save at least $500 in gas and personnel every time we can use the bikes instead of taking a truck or ambulance out," he said.
The $1,500 bikes go out in pairs, each carrying a portion of $3,000 in lifesaving equipment. The department now owns two bikes; Faer would eventually like to have six and 12 trained riders.
Funding has come from the city and private donations. "The community has really supported us," he said. "At Timbercrest Elementary, the kids raised enough for another bike by bringing in change." The fact that the bikes are so interesting to young people adds another advantage to having them, Faer said. "You know, I used to go out and talk about bike safety," he said. "But now the kids have a role model; they see bike safety."
Using the bikes to get out in the community is Faer's favorite part of the job. "I'd say one percent of what we do is actual emergency service," he said. "The other 99 percent is Hi ma'am, how are you today?' And that's what fire service is really all about."
Sunday, December 01, 2002
By JEANNINE GAGE
Staff Writer
DELTONA, FL -- There's something powerful about an ambulance or firetruck coming down the road on the way to a call. Darting in and out of traffic, sirens blasting, horn blowing, cars and people moving out of the way. It all but screams "help is on the way!"
Deltona Fire Department Division Chief David Faer takes a more subtle approach. He and his team of three emergency medical technicians and paramedics go to scenes quietly . . . on bicycles.
Last month, the department trained four staff members and bought two bikes to create what Faer said is the first fire department bike unit in Volusia County. "Police officers do it," Faer said. "We figured we could, too." Of course, Faer and his team are not dispatched on emergency calls when, no matter how hard they pedal, a motorized vehicle would get there first. Instead, they go where agility is an asset, like crowded festivals or gatherings. "We're going to use these bikes when firetrucks and ambulances have limited access," Faer said. "The response time of the bikes can be much better in situations like that."
And don't think the bike officers aren't prepared for emergencies, Faer said. They carry advanced life-saving equipment in 50-pound packs on the back of their mountain bikes. A defibrillator, various narcotics and intubation kits are all part of their lifesaving arsenal. Faer decided to look into adding two-wheelers to the department's vehicle fleet after falling in love with bike riding when his wife and kids bought him a quality bike for Father's Day this past June. "I'm just like anybody," he said. "When I see a police officer on a bike, I say Holy cow, how neat is that?' After I started riding, I thought it would be a good thing for the department."
Engineer and Paramedic Adam Bengelsdorf, who has been an avid off-road biker for years, also thought the bikes would be an asset to the department. "Things are changing, there's always new things going on," he said. "I just thought this would be something else that would enhance our services." Faer, Bengelsdorf, Emergency Medical Technician Michelle Holt and Paramedic Danny Bowen took a 40-hour class in Orlando given by the International Police Mountain Bike Association to learn how to do their jobs on a bike.
Even an experienced rider like Bengelsdorf needed to learn how to handle his -- he flipped it wheel over wheel once in training. "It's a whole new ball game with all this additional weight," he said. While the training and equipment bring additional cost to the department, Faer said the bikes save money in the long run. "I'd say we save at least $500 in gas and personnel every time we can use the bikes instead of taking a truck or ambulance out," he said.
The $1,500 bikes go out in pairs, each carrying a portion of $3,000 in lifesaving equipment. The department now owns two bikes; Faer would eventually like to have six and 12 trained riders.
Funding has come from the city and private donations. "The community has really supported us," he said. "At Timbercrest Elementary, the kids raised enough for another bike by bringing in change." The fact that the bikes are so interesting to young people adds another advantage to having them, Faer said. "You know, I used to go out and talk about bike safety," he said. "But now the kids have a role model; they see bike safety."
Using the bikes to get out in the community is Faer's favorite part of the job. "I'd say one percent of what we do is actual emergency service," he said. "The other 99 percent is Hi ma'am, how are you today?' And that's what fire service is really all about."