MariaCatEMT
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High demand, low supply
Emergency officials are coping with a local and national shortage of paramedics and they're concerned there may not be enough supply to support future needs.
They said response times are good right now, but looking into the future for the next several years, it will be difficult to handle the demand if the flow of paramedics isn't increased.
"In the month of January we saw a record number of transports," Sunstar Paramedics Chief Operating Officer Mark Postma said. "In February, a record number of transports per day and as you know the spring season is here. In March and April, we're going to see record numbers again."
"Right now, our department runs about 87 percent of our calls which are all EMS related," St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief James Wimberly said. "So, there's going to be an increase we expect and the need for more firefighter/paramedics."
Read more here...
Emergency officials are coping with a local and national shortage of paramedics and they're concerned there may not be enough supply to support future needs.
They said response times are good right now, but looking into the future for the next several years, it will be difficult to handle the demand if the flow of paramedics isn't increased.
"In the month of January we saw a record number of transports," Sunstar Paramedics Chief Operating Officer Mark Postma said. "In February, a record number of transports per day and as you know the spring season is here. In March and April, we're going to see record numbers again."
"Right now, our department runs about 87 percent of our calls which are all EMS related," St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief James Wimberly said. "So, there's going to be an increase we expect and the need for more firefighter/paramedics."
Read more here...