From the Berwyn Firefighters Local 506 Facebook page:
In an earlier post this month, we mentioned that we had some big news to announce. Well, here it is! All of our front line engines are upgrading to Advanced Life Support (ALS) capabilities starting January 1st, 2020.
So, what does this mean for you, the citizens of Berwyn? Pictured below is our Zoll cardiac monitor that has been placed on all of our engines. It can identify heart attacks, called STEMIs, which paramedics can help treat in the field. It can identify fatal heart rhythms, and can potentially shock the heart back into a normal, stable rhythm. Additionally, it can obtain sets of vitals & help us monitor a patient’s well being. Along with this equipment, we will now be carrying life saving medications to treat these conditions.
With our engines adding ALS equipment, we can now provide advanced emergency care for our patients prior to the arrival of an incoming ambulance.
Berwyn Firefighters Local 506 photo
#1 by Jim on December 30, 2019 - 9:50 PM
The firemang,
According to the OSFM records Cicero ran 8,515 runs in 2018 of which 6,981 were EMS. I think 3 ambulances would be tough unless they staffed their engines as ALS. In 2018, Evanston did 6,544 EMS runs with 2 ambulances, Skokie did 5,668 EMS runs with 3 ambulances, Desplaines did 6,676 EMS runs with 3 ambulances and Berwyn did 4,997 EMS runs with 3 ambulances but they all have ALS suppression companies. Waukegan did 7,553 EMS runs with 5 ambulances and no ALS suppression companies. It would be great to see Cicero with fire based EMS and follow in Berwyn’s footsteps.
#2 by theFiremang on December 30, 2019 - 4:18 PM
Berwyn got rid of PSI about 3-4 years ago. Berwyn runs 3 ALS ambulances. Berwyn hired a large group of FF/PM and is working very well. Now their fire apparatus will be ALS. The town over should have done the same, but I guess Metro are providing the politics with a lot of campaign money to keep Metro there. CICERO There is no need to run 4 ambulances in that town, so the kick back must be great, Great job Berwyn
#3 by Chuck on December 30, 2019 - 2:49 AM
Are the firefighter paramedics for this new manning coming from within, new hiresd, or personnel from PSI? Or is the department even still using contract medics?