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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Orange County Grand Jury • 2011-2012

Orange County Emergency Medical Services

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Findings and Recommendations 3 findings

F1 Page 146
Fire departments that once primarily responded to calls for fire emergencies now have become emergency medical response departments primarily responding to medical emergencies. This evolution has occurred since the onset of “9-1-1” call where all emergency calls are received at one place.
No recommendations for this finding
F2 Page 146
As the fire departments evolved into emergency medical departments, the model for operating the fire departments has not radically changed. The fire departments have simply absorbed the emergency medical responses into their departments under their old “fire response” model.
No recommendations for this finding
F3 Page 146
Economic recessions have forced local fire department boards of directors and city councils to re-evaluate their models for providing fire and emergency medical responses. While this brings to the fore issues of staffing, response times, public safety, training, consolidations, union rules and privatization of their various services, it also spotlights the model used for all emergency responses.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 147
Suggested alternative models should include forming a unified Emergency Response Department that includes fire and medical response, separating the fire response from the medical response, privatizing the emergency medical response, etc. (See F3)

Additional Recommendations 1

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.

Agency Responses 10

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.