By Richard C. Clement
"When it comes to old technology, friends don't let friends run junk"
- Words from a retired computer systems pro in District 2
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Detroit City Council President
Brenda Jones |
The
Detroit City Council has approved a two year budget for the Detroit Fire
Department that includes adding additional Emergency Medical Technician personnel
and use of Global Positioning Software and Google Earth. DFD/EMS units will
also have the ability to closely monitor runs to spot abusers or frequent
flyers who use the EMS services for non-emergencies. Calls are already being ranked by priority
codes when someone calls in. When the
EMS unit arrives, the run is given a code and, a priority ranking system will
determine if this caller’s address is in fact a frequent flyer. Repeat offenders can be identified fairly
quickly so that other agencies can provide the long term help these people
need.
To cut down response time, the department has hired 66 new Emergency
Medical Technicians (EMT) in 2014 with another 34 graduating on January 23rd,
11:30am at the Detroit Public Safety Building. DFD/EMS
has acquired 15 new ambulances and have up to 12 Private Ambulance Providers
that provide additional service during peak times of 1:00pm to 1:00am on call.
An additional communications channel has been added to allow dispatch to
communicate much better than before.
New ROMEO Non-Transport Units
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DFD/EMS Rapid Response (ROMEO) Units |
This two
year budget allows for new ROMEO non-transport Rapid Response Units that are staffed
by EMT’s. These units provide onsite medical service to someone until a
transport unit arrives. The color of
these units are RED and they look like a small pickup truck. These units are so
versatile that some of them are based at Detroit Police Precincts. The last item of importance is the cross
training of Firefighters as Medical First Responders that can give First Aid
until an EMS transport unit arrives to take the person to a hospital.
With the new changes and funding the Detroit Fire Department
EMS Units will be able to reduce response times and provide better services to
the citizens of the City of Detroit.
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