Avatar image for FormerCHIEF_SDAD  ( FormerCHIEF_SDAD )
Comments made by FormerCHIEF_SDAD  DeMaio, Fire Chief Spar Over
EMT Pay  We Fire Agencies NEED to GET-OUT of EMS!!! (There, I
said it!!) For years, we didn't get involved in EMS, in fact San
Diego's POLICE use to run the ambulance here.  Our City is
paying MILLIONS for a service, that is provided without a tax
payer subsidy, in every corner of the country without taxpayer
money.  We need to get the County of San Diego to change the
rules that say that you have to have TWO paramedics on an
ambulance, that every paramedic provider (private or public) in
the county must have a service area (contracted) to provide
paramedic services.  The Fire Chiefs see EMS as a way to get
more money and more equipment.  1. Fires are approximately
10-20% of the total emergency responses  2. 80-85% of our
responses are EMS now.  **BUT, here is the 600 lb gorilla in the
room**  Twenty years ago, there were 6 or 7 Private Ambulance
companies in our county. Today, there are 19