Florida Firefighters Protest, Want ALS Duties

Posted: Friday, October 3, 2008
Updated: October 3rd, 2008 02:35 PM EDT
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Florida Firefighters Protest, Want ALS Duties






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RYAN MILLS
Naples Daily News (Florida)

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Comments

Posted by EMT
(10/03/08 - 02:57 PM)
"WAAAAAAA! We dont want rules, we dont want tests, we dont want oversight, just give us ALS toys so we can justify ourselves!"



Posted by da roc in raleigh nc
(10/03/08 - 03:51 PM)
fire dept and als?
If youve only engaged yourself 102 times in 43000 situations.I think letting the pro handle the ems job is what needs to happen here. fire is a great support service,but when you are trying to save lives 16 medics spoils the brew..
Fire needs to give up ALS and do great BLS



Posted by veneficus
(10/04/08 - 05:23 AM)
DO I understand this story? I firefighter telling a physician what is medically needed?



Posted by Ryshane sewpersad in South Africa
(10/06/08 - 10:02 AM)
ALS duties
ALS duties are highly specified tasks; ongoing training and exposure to cases requiring those skills are paramount. I feel that if the fire department really wants to save lives they should work with the EMS service, interagency liaison is a key responsibility within all organizations in order to deliver the best possible service to patients.



Posted by Jerry Attrick
(10/10/08 - 12:45 PM)
Florida Firefighters Protest, Want ALS Duties
The county ems system would be better served by BLS ambulances and paramedic fire rescue units. Patients would receive faster ALS and paramedics would not be tied up transporting BLS patients.

It also provides a career path to follow. Start out as a BLS ambulance driver / attendant and work your way up to firefighter / paramedic. Check it out kids ... it works well and saves lives in most of the U.S.A.



Posted by Paramedic in naples, Fl.
(10/31/08 - 12:03 AM)
Its a matter of providing service
I work in the Naples area. What the story did not report is that the EMS transport units only have one Paramedic and one EMT. The fire engines have a min. crew of three with at least one paramedic. Fire arrives on scene first over 70% of the time and in over 1000 instances they were on scene more than 10 minutes without an als unit. The fire fighter/ paramedics are asking for the training and certification tests to meet the standard, the problem is the Doctor says he is too busy to train medics outside of his own EMS agency. Unfortunately this doctor has been approached by other Doctors in the area to assist him, but he refuses to allow anyone into his turf.





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