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Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected:
F2
Findings and Recommendations
2 findings
It is extremely costly to equip a fire department for only the occasional fire response; the County and fifteen towns/cities have not been proactive in challenging fire departments to adopt changes that are more cost effective and that better serve their communities. Further, unions are more interested in job preservation than in providing the right mixture of capabilities at a reasonable cost, using scare tactics to influence the public and fostering firefighter unwillingness to collaborate with EMS. Response: The City of Campbell partially agrees with the finding. The City of Campbell works closely with the Santa Clara County Fire Department and is aware that the Fire Department is constantly striving to provide effective emergency services in the most cost-effective manner. For example, many times the Santa Clara County Fire Department only deploys three firefighters per engine unlike other surrounding agencies that require a minimum of four firefighters. We recognize that the cost for employee services is high. However, we have been working with County Fire to help them ensure that they maintain control of these costs.
Related Recommendations (1)
B: All fifteen towns/cities — Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale — and the County (for CCFD and SCFD) should determine the emergency response service they want to achieve, particularly as to the result, then determine how to best achieve that. Response: The City of Campbell agrees with the recommendation.
Whether the emergency responder is a firefighter-paramedic or an EMS paramedic matters little to the person with the medical emergency; using firefighter-paramedics in firefighting equipment as first responders to all non-police emergencies is unnecessarily costly when less expensive paramedics on ambulances possess the skills needed to address 96% of calls that are not fire related. Response: The City of Campbell partially agrees with the finding. It is understood that paramedics on ambulances are less expensive than firefighter-paramedics and may be able to handle most medical emergencies. However, firefighter-paramedics possess additional skills that are essential on many non-fire emergencies such as extrication of victims of auto collisions, rescues, and hazardous materials. While it may be true that on average only 4% of calls involve actual fires, many other calls require specialized training, skills, and equipment that paramedics on ambulances may not possess. Fighting Fire or Fighting Change? Rethinking Fire Department Response Protocol and Consolidation Opportunities
Related Recommendations (1)
All fifteen towns/cities — Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale - and the County (for CCFD and SCFD) should adopt an emergency services department mentality and staff or contract accordingly to meet demand. Response: The City of Campbell agrees with this recommendation.
No Responses Found
1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
