Things that make you go "Hmmm........."

[CollegeBuff]

Selectmen end stipends for volunteers' schooling

Copyright 2004 Providence Publications, LLC
Providence Journal-Bulletin (Rhode Island)
January 13, 2004, Tuesday Massachusetts Edition

* The town will no longer pay for course work to certify firefighters for emergency service.
* * *

REHOBOTH - Heeding advice from the Ambulance Committee, the Board of Selectmen forbade Fire Chief Robert Pray to issue stipends to help firefighters maintain their emergency medical treatment certifications.

Pray said the stipends ranged from $50 to $500 and helped the town's volunteer firefighters pay for the courses required to achieve certifications ranging from basic first aid to emergency medical technician. The selectmen's order probably affects only about 12 out of the town's 70 firefighters, Pray said.



All three of the selectmen said that the town should try to have its emergency personnel certified in as many areas as possible. But they also agreed that there's no logic in paying for firefighters to become emergency medical technicians, because under state law they may not be able to act as EMTs.
The Ambulance Committee's supply coordinator, Robert Benoit, brought the issue of the stipends to the selectmen's attention. He said he hoped the selectmen could cut the stipends and move the funds set aside for them back to one of the town accounts that supports emergency services.

"You expect us taxpayers to tighten our belts... and you give Mr. Pray these unjustified stipends," he said.

Ambulance Committee co-coordinator Scott Meagher said some firefighters were using the stipends to help pay for EMT and paramedic certifications.

But, he said, the state also rates vehicles and facilities for the level of emergency response care they can provide. Currently, he said, the town's ambulances are the only vehicles licensed to allow EMTs and paramedics to operate in them, and the Ambulance Department holds the town's only Emergency Medical Services license.

He went on to say that emergency personnel can use only skills that match the license of the facility in which they're working. For example, Meagher said, if an EMT were handling a situation in a facility with no licenses, he would be able to use only basic first aid.

And, since only the ambulances have the advanced medical licenses, he said, firefighters with advanced medical certificates are not allowed to use their skills at an emergency until an ambulance arrives.

Pray said the stipends help Rehoboth retain volunteer firefighters who might otherwise leave for paid positions in other towns.

But, after hearing the Ambulance Committee officials, the selectmen unanimously voted to forbid the stipends.

"If they can't do the job, what's the use in paying for it?" Selectman John P. Ferreira said.

Pray said the stipends are just a small part of a $10,000 item on the Fire Department's budget that provides firefighters with payments for time spent with the department and helps them purchase uniforms and training.

He said he will attempt to get the money intended for the stipends to firefighters by retooling the years of service payments. Only one firefighter is certified as an intermediate EMT, Pray said. That firefighter was receiving the largest medical stipend: $400 a year.


To contact Rob Margetta, phone 508-674-8401 or e-mail rmargett@projo.com.

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Am I just cynical seeing an ulterior motive behind the head of the town ambulance getting the FD's budget slashed to prevent them from *gasp* doing some of the same things the ambulance does?


Feel free to tell me if I've watched too mayn X-Files episodes. :p

[mcaldwell]

Sounds like job protection to me.

While they are right that without a formal program and a medical director, the ff's couldn't use their entire EMT ticket, but I would think there are still a lot of benefits to be gained from having the higher qualification. Especially during multi-casualty accidents.

[DaSharkie]

Actually, ther eis little difference between the capabilities of an EMT Basic and a First Responder. So the following statement is pretty bogus:

For example, Meagher said, if an EMT were handling a situation in a facility with no licenses, he would be able to use only basic first aid.

Now, I have a bigger problem with this:

And, since only the ambulances have the advanced medical licenses, he said, firefighters with advanced medical certificates are not allowed to use their skills at an emergency until an ambulance arrives.

Actually, this is untrue. By Massachusetts CMR, if I am a firefighter certified at the Paramedic level, and my service is credentialed at the EMT level, when a Paramedic ambulance shows up, I cannot perform any Paramedic interventions. I may only work up to the level of which the service I am employed at the current time is licensed to. DPH and OEMS are beginning a crackdown on that sort of stuff. As a medic, when I go to towns that are certified to only the BLS level of care and I have an Intermediate or Paramedic from their department, I will not allow them to perform any ALS skills for a myriad of reasons, the aobve being just one of them. Nevermind the whole thing about no true difference between first responder and EMT -Basic.

I have an issue with this town's policy though. Many EMTs must pay to obtain con - ed and this time and money should be given by the town because it is for their job. They will use their EMT - Basic skills on calls to help those in need so the town adn the citizens benefit from it. The next round of contract negotiations will change this ruling though, I'll bet.

Am I just cynical seeing an ulterior motive behind the head of the town ambulance getting the FD's budget slashed to prevent them from *gasp* doing some of the same things the ambulance does?

Yes, he is protecting the jobs of those employed by his agency. He's doing his job. Sneaky or underhanded as anyone may call it, it is his job to ensure the employment security of his personnel.

[shammrock54]

Under Mass law though their is VERY little difference in the scope of practice of a Basic and a First Responder when applied to the actions of non-ambulance based FFs or police officers. That said they are not providing any room for expansion in the future or for a higher standard of care for the citizenry. Suppose they decide to go to fire based ambulance in 5 yrs, well your 12 certified EMT/Medics are now only 5, so you must pay even more money to get guys RECERTIFIED as well as get the rest CERTIFIED. Where if they had left the funds in place and encouraged more members to go get their EMT than it would cost less money in the long run because paying for 5 a year is cheaper for the town than footing the bill for 40 all at once.