Entering the firefighting and paramedic field can be challenging due to the extensive time, training and costs involved. These barriers often deter people from pursuing this career path, leaving communities with a shortage of these crucial individuals. To address their … Continue reading →
Each year, emergency dispatch services receive approximately 240 million 911 calls. Of these calls, 28.5 million request an ambulance or other health assistance. With the average charge for an ambulance ride costing between $1,500 and $1,600, those calls add up … Continue reading →
In June 2005, former Fire Commissioner Cortez Trotter of the Chicago Fire Department developed a Segway Personal Transporter (PT) emergency response team that provided paramedic support during special events in the city’s downtown and lakefront area. This first responder program … Continue reading →
In February, Portage, Wis., residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of implementing a fire department-based EMS service. They even had a leader who could put the idea in motion: Fire Chief, Troy Haase, who had been awarded First Responder of the … Continue reading →
The Vancouver, Wash., Fire Department is committed to combating the opioid crisis. With an increase in opioid-related emergency calls, the VFD joined the Washington State Board of Health’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program, which distributes overdose prevention kits to … Continue reading →
Marin County’s fire chief of more than a decade received a top state honor in October 2023, earning the Fire Chief of the Year distinction from the California Fire Chiefs Association. But if you ask him about it, he’ll say, … Continue reading →
Kristina Koch wants her students to embrace their career potential. As the director of the Northwest Career and Technical Center in St. Albans, Vermont, she is determined to give them the tools they need to succeed in a wide range … Continue reading →
Every year by mid-January, the residents of Silverton, Colo., have been under several avalanche alerts and faced numerous power failures lasting from a few hours to most of the day. Depending on which side of the mountain they live on, … Continue reading →
Within recent years, Grand Terrace, Calif., has prioritized public safety by going the extra step to layer safety measures into its building ordinances. These building ordinances require the placement of certain life-saving equipment that will undoubtedly give residents peace of … Continue reading →
The Cheektowaga Police Department in New York is placing a strong emphasis on wellness programs. One of the most important wellness issues taken to heart by the department is the mental health of police officers. Lt. Caleb Harte, Cheektowaga Police … Continue reading →
“I’ll never need an ambulance ride; why would I pay for a subscription I’ll never use?” This might be the mindset of millions of Americans, but when catastrophe strikes, ambulance service can leave a person thousands of dollars in debt. … Continue reading →
