Friday, July 30, 2004
A doctor warned that the present system may cost a life.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Council's safety committee will review a March ordinance that limits runs by firefighters to medical calls.
The ordinance requires police or a private ambulance company to respond first and then call firefighters.
Fire Chief Walt Greenamyer said firefighters can be at the scene in four minutes while ambulances often take longer.
Until an ambulance arrives, the chief said, "We got the public lying in the street."
Committee chairman Greg Oesch said Thursday the ordinance was passed because of public complaints of the massive response to often minor calls. There would two fire vehicles, including a ladder truck, at least one police car, and then an ambulance at each call, he said.
Greenamyer also said that police officers were making decisions without medical training.
Proper training
Dr. Anita Ziemak, the medical adviser to the fire department and who has an office in Salem, said that the current system "may, after time, lose a patient."
Dr. Ziemak said appearances do not always indicate a patient's real medical status. While working at a Youngstown hospital, she said, a police officer said a woman was not injured. The woman had major trauma and later died.
To make evaluations, "you need somebody with the right eyes and the right training," she said.
The state-certified firefighters are trained as first responders to do initial evaluations.
"That's what first responders are there to do," she added.
Oesch said he has received no complaints from the public about the new response system. But he added the committee will determine if the new ordinance is creating a safety problem.
Proposal
Also at the committee meeting, Chris Brook, division general manager for Rural Metro Ambulance, discussed details of a proposed contract with the city.
Under the proposal, Rural Metro would keep an ambulance in the city as much as possible.
The company would be held to a nine-minute response from the time it gets the call, or pay a $500 penalty. The pact would not require payment between the city and the company.
Under city ordinance, Rural Metro and KLG Ambulance provide emergency response in the city on a rotating basis.
wilkinson@vindy.com