As the SFFD points out in their presentation at the 4 PM informational meeting today, why not use the Paramedics we have to respond to emergency situations;
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue is exploring the potential to utilize paramedics, currently employed by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, as Advanced Life Support (ALS) responders during specialty incident responses.
Also, if we are going to be paying for this important training that I agree with 100% why not go whole hog and put in public ambulances so that taxpayers get some kind of reimbursement from the service;
- Budgetary Considerations
- Staff Considerations
- Certifications
- Skills validations
- Equipment and Supplies
- Medical Guidelines will need to be adopted by Sioux Falls Fire
- Rescue and REMSA
- Collaboration with the Sioux Falls Firefighters Association
It seems blatantly obvious that we would be paying for all the training and equipment to provide a public ambulance;
This expanded response capability would allow Sioux Falls Fire Rescue to provide immediate initial advanced life support to victims of a specialty response incident.
And with the purchase of the ambulances and expanded parking facilities we would have a complete public ambulance service instead of the taxpayers currently subsidizing a private entity’s profits, an entity currently being investigated by the Federal Government.
I’ve heard rumblings from within the SFFD that many in management support a public ambulance service but the former SF Fire Chief fought it by convincing the Mayor that it wouldn’t be cost effective. Not only would it save taxpayers millions in public safety, it would be a more reliable service that the city and public could monitor more closely.
The only REAL drawback is that the city would probably have to hire a 3rd party private contractor to collect insurance and other fees for a commission.