Fire Dept. Requirement-EMTP?

[zzyzx]

Yeah, I totally agree that "EMS based fire suppression" is an accurate way to describe fire departments, at least here in So Cal. I just don't think they would ever say it like that since no matter how many medical calls they run, they will always think of themselves as a fire department and as firefighters, with EMS being secondary.

[frontcrawl]

I'm pushing for fire based parking enforcement and city park maintenance.

[FormerEMSLT297]

Or you can do like one dept in MD did, Ohh,, you cant pass, EMT-P,,, EMT-I is the same thing, you can function as a medic in charge as an I, you just cant do nasal tubes, or RSI, or give Haldol,,, but you're the same as a full P.... Watered down EMS,,,thats what i call it.. or you have the flip side, a FF/EMT-P who has been on the job for 10-15 yrs, riding "the box" as someone called it is suddenly promoted to LT, and Holy S$%T,, they know NOTHING about firefighting, havent been in a burning building in YEARS since fire school ... I agree, EMS should be it's own 3rd service ,, with comparative pay, benies, and retirement of cops and hosedragging, Firemonkeys, (oppps that kind of slipped).

Dr. Jay Fitch of Fitch and assoc told me in a meeting Circa 1993 when NYC was considering turning over EMS to the FDNY, "very few FD's run a quality EMS system.".... and there were never truer words spoken. and it's been documented around the country, but the IAFF, and UFA, nad others have the poiticians convinced that EMS belongs with the FD, so you will see the trend continuing.