First off there aren't 60 paid "fireman" that is just what your media wants you to think. In reality there are 60 paid firefighters who are ALL also dual certified/licensed as either EMTs or Paramedics. They all rotate from the fire apparatus to ambulances shift by shift (some more frequent than others). There is never 60 paid "fireman" on duty at any one time. Mon-Fri 7a-5p there is 5 personel on a fire truck, then 24/365 there is two other staffed trucks (4-5 personel each), and then there are 3 ambulances with 2-3 personel each.
Now I will say that u don't think they need the 2nd 24/365 truck crew, BUT they do run too many ambulance calls for the 3 ambulances that they keep staffed. Nearly every day the truck staff has to jump on a 4th ambulance to run EMS calls, not to give the guys on the ambulances a break but because all the other ambulances are already out on calls. Because if the constant EMS calls and low pay and no raises that the SFD offers they have a rather high turnover rate for their paramedics. In my opinion the need to scrap the other 24/365 truck and staff at least 1 more ambulance 24/365.
I hear all the time that the SFD pays their "fireman" very well. Part if this is true; 35-36k/yr for a FF/EMT is right at to slightly above the national average, BUT 39-42k/yr for a FF/paramedic is 4-7k below the national average. This along with the fact that there haven't been pay raises is 5+yrs and their high call volume (burnout) have a lot to do with their FF/paramedic retention.
Looks like all ambulance calls.
ReplyDeleteAnd we need 60 paid firemen why?
^^ ignorance is bliss
DeleteFirst off there aren't 60 paid "fireman" that is just what your media wants you to think. In reality there are 60 paid firefighters who are ALL also dual certified/licensed as either EMTs or Paramedics. They all rotate from the fire apparatus to ambulances shift by shift (some more frequent than others). There is never 60 paid "fireman" on duty at any one time. Mon-Fri 7a-5p there is 5 personel on a fire truck, then 24/365 there is two other staffed trucks (4-5 personel each), and then there are 3 ambulances with 2-3 personel each.
Now I will say that u don't think they need the 2nd 24/365 truck crew, BUT they do run too many ambulance calls for the 3 ambulances that they keep staffed. Nearly every day the truck staff has to jump on a 4th ambulance to run EMS calls, not to give the guys on the ambulances a break but because all the other ambulances are already out on calls.
Because if the constant EMS calls and low pay and no raises that the SFD offers they have a rather high turnover rate for their paramedics. In my opinion the need to scrap the other 24/365 truck and staff at least 1 more ambulance 24/365.
I hear all the time that the SFD pays their "fireman" very well. Part if this is true; 35-36k/yr for a FF/EMT is right at to slightly above the national average, BUT 39-42k/yr for a FF/paramedic is 4-7k below the national average. This along with the fact that there haven't been pay raises is 5+yrs and their high call volume (burnout) have a lot to do with their FF/paramedic retention.