Q&A
Comparison of fire engine and ambulance emergency response
0:41:18
·
92 sec
Council Member Brewer asks Chief Fields to explain the difference between fire engine and ambulance response times and capabilities. Fields describes how fire engines, or CFR units, are used to respond to high-acuity medical emergencies alongside ambulances.
- Fire engines (CFR units) respond to high-acuity medical emergencies like cardiac arrests and chokes
- Fire engines are more readily available due to fewer fire calls compared to medical emergencies
- Fire engines provide initial medical care while waiting for transport ambulances to arrive
Gale Brewer
0:41:18
Okay.
0:41:18
I do want to thank Christine Marrato and Chris Banks.
0:41:21
Both council members for being here.
0:41:23
The the other question I have is when the fire this it I think it's confusing to the public, not to you, to explain to us.
0:41:32
Obviously, there are more fires houses and there are ambulance stations.
0:41:36
So the question would be 911, fire response, meaning the engine as opposed to the ambulance.
0:41:42
Can you explain that just so the public understands why the fire engine might respond more quickly and how that relationship works.
Michael Fields
0:41:53
So fire engines or CFR gears is what we call what we call them.
0:41:59
They response them to medical emergencies, high acuity.
0:42:03
So probably 1 to 3 assignments, not all of them, but quite a few cardiac arrests, chokes.
0:42:09
They are centrally located at their firehouses, and as you see them inside your communities, they cover a geographical area.
0:42:17
There are less fires than medical emergencies, so their availability is higher.
0:42:23
And therefore, we utilize them to respond and utilize their training to get them to provide medical care to the patient and to our transport ambulance paramedics in a Robsen location.
Gale Brewer
0:42:34
Okay.
0:42:34
And and that seems to be working in the sense that they don't have a fire to respond to.
0:42:39
Obviously, if you had more ambulances, they maybe you wouldn't need the fire apparatuses as often.
0:42:46
Right?
Michael Fields
0:42:48
That would be a way of looking at it.
0:42:50
Yes.
Gale Brewer
0:42:50
Okay.
