I like the "In a perfect world everyone would be a Medic" line that the FF threw in there. People DO NOT get it......
What services does the study recomend privatizinggggggggggg
Let me just put your mind to rest...
NO first world nation outside the US uses joint fire/ems.
Most nations you wouldn't want to live in do either.
Everyone else is wrong except the US? Give me a break...
On top of it, most of these nations save a lot of money on the fire service by not having a very big one. Rather than have dozens of stations (that costs a lot) they have a handful that respond timely and with enough mass of men and equipment to actually effect interior attacks.
Something that is rarely seen in the modern US light weight construction.
Firefighters...
How many of you have faught one or 2 structures fires a day, didn't rest or take a shower between them and normal duties, and had the manual dexterity to do things like start tough IVs, or the presence of mind to make comlpex decisions?
What "fireground activities" is a support medic going to provide that requires training as a firefighter?
None.
So you will take EMS units off the street in a burdoned system for fire ops.
How well is that going to work?
Then you are going to pay private EMTs with FD medics? Sounds like a way over-paid driver to me.
Instead of roving brown outs, how about system status management without resting quarters for fire apparatus? If it works for the squads, it must work for the engine and ladder Cos.
I'll even bet the places where structure fires and car accidents happen is a lot more predictable than who will get sick and when. (Or even call an ambulance)
Cities bring in these frauds in order to give the illusion of credibility and nonbias. On a good day, they can even con somebody else into paying for it.
Afterall, If I was paying for a nonbiased study, I don't give a crap what interests the potential stakeholders from the results want or would agree to. "Let them eat cake."
A study that told them what they were already implementing, what an amazing surprise. I think I am going to have an MI from from the shock.
(wait that is just gas...)
If people want joint fire/ems, fine, it's their tax dollars, let them spend it how they wish.
But there really isn't a need to waste money and time to make it look "legit." Spewing some propaganda on TV and the internet would probably work just as well. (likely also to be cheaper)
Consultants from Ohio? I'll tell you what will be privatized.
There will be a private ambulance company who after tax dollars, manpower, and equipment are allocated to a call when the bold fire ALS heroes decide it is beneath them, usually because they wouldn't know a sick person anymore than a layperson, the caller can get billed for their privste BLS or even ALS trip to the hospital. That will free up many more ALS ambulances to do basically nothing.
But hey, saving lives is hard work. We all know how many calls are life and death too, the ED is packed with life and death patients, even in the hallways. (sarcasm)
I also love the charge people for abuse crap.
So people will worry about a fine before they call if it is deemed "waste?"
You know who those people are? The elderly who actually attempt to pay their bills and worry about whether they are more worthy than somebody else.
You know who will not be detered by a fine? The people who don't usually pay or can't pay anyway.
What then? Send them to prison on the taxpayer dime? I see the cost savings just adding up now.
If these "consultants" were anymore ignorant, they would have to think to breathe.
If these "consultants" were anymore biased they'd be wearing FD logos and endorsements on their cloths like spots figures.
Lipstick on a pig.
sorry, shameless stab at dispatch) do you have any other symptoms?"
