This from across the pond:
My name is Paul Dodd, I am a paramedic working for the London Ambulance Service, England. Myself and my colleague Stuart Gray, also a London paramedic, have produced an e-book which is available on Kindle or Kindle APP.The book is titled ‘101 dumb emergency calls‘, which is all about the ridiculous calls received by the emergency services. The book is produced with humour in mind, but there is also a serious aspect and readers will see what some people call the emergency services for, therefore potentially putting other people’s lives at risk.I thank you in advance.Regards,Paul DoddStuart Gray
This is from Amazon:
101 Dumb Emergency Calls is a collation of the most stupid and irrelevant calls to the emergency services that have been highlighted in the media in recent times. Mostly from the USA and UK, they bring into sharp focus the extent of the abuse of our critical life-saving services.With cartoons to depict calls and hyperlinks to take the reader to the original audio (some of them released in the public domain by the police and ambulance services in order to show the world how badly a minority of individuals will misuse valuable resources), this book promises to amuse and shock every right-minded person who understands what these services are here for.The author and illustrator are professional front line paramedics, so they know a thing or two about the subject; and from calls to the police for directions to 999 rants about the lack of buses, they have experienced their fair share of such stupidity.
You won’t believe some of the calls that have been made in the name of personal crisis. You simply won’t believe what some people think is an emergency!
#1 by tom sullivan on February 9, 2014 - 10:13 AM
going back to about 1985 there was a similar report by the zekman crew. it was called “too little, too late” . a week long tv series, it covered several areas of concern about the cfd’s ems system. not enough ambos, broken down ambos, very long response times, and the “ambulance assist” program for fire companies, which was only up and running a short time. that investigation which featured on camera interviews with many paramedics and ffs lead to some real improvements in the system. the squeaky wheel definitely got some grease then.
#2 by Bill Post on February 8, 2014 - 6:24 PM
Thanks for posting the link MO. I had already submitted it to the webmaster a few days ago.
It can be considered somewhat controversial however. One of the EMS field supervisors Patrick Fitzmaurice was willing to appear on camera and publicly claim that “more ambulances were needed on the streets” which would already put him on a “collison” course with City officials and some of the “brass”.
Another CFD paramedic was also on the broadcast but didn’t agree to be identified on camera (for very understandable reasons).
Apparently the City and Local 2 are in contract negotiations (as it was mentioned) on the broadcast , so that has alot to do with it.
It is interesting to note that according to the “Union” ,”Chicago needs at least 10 more ambulances” as was reported on the news report.
By the reporters own admission Chicago’s ALS fire companies usually arrive on the scene within 3 to 5 minutes of the incident so Chicago’s ALS and Engine and Truck program has been working the way is it supposed to be working.
While I am not a member of the Chicago fire department, in 2009 the Chicago Fire Department did want to increase it’s ALS fleet of ambulances from the current 60 to 64 and they had also proposed building additions to Engine 99’s and Engine 71’s quarters to be able to accommodate Ambulances. While Engine 99 does house ambulance 86 it is known that Ambulance 86 must use a smaller and older model ambulance because of space limitations in quarters and Engine 71’s station doesn’t have any room for an ambulance at all.
So it is really a matter of what the City of Chicago’s policy towards fire and ems service will be.
I really have to hand it to EMS commander Fitzmaurice for sticking out his neck and publicly differing with the City on what the size of the Ambulance fleet should be. I am sure that there are people on this board who have more information and can speak from personal experience.
There are different issues involved in this subject and various opinions so I am sure that this has the potential of becoming a heated topic. The idea is to keep the discussion civil and to keep in mind that there are pros and cons which are all legitimate.
#3 by Max O on February 8, 2014 - 1:53 PM
you might want to post this http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/06/2-investigators-bga-does-chicago-have-an-ambulance-shortage/#comments