Medical calls keep fire stations busy

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Those droning sounds of sirens in the middle of the night more than likely are coming from a fire engine, or an ambulance, or both.

During the day, the eeriness of an emergency response siren seems to blend in with the mundane noises -- street traffic, the telephone, the TV, the voices of kids playing games.

But it's almost as if sirens in the night are carrying a somewhat shrouded message. They seem to be more ominous, even louder as they pierce the stillness of the hour. Perhaps the sound is more relevant to our consciousness, until it eventually fades into the night. Maybe that's because we were awakened, or maybe we hadn't yet fallen asleep.

For just a moment, you might think about those in the drivers' seats of the fire engines and ambulances, together with their teams of rescuers who are apt to be kept busy at any hour of the day or night, throughout the year.

Sometimes, their lives are on the line, such as when tending to a fire, or some other potentially hazardous situation. Other times, the hastiness with which they respond -- necessitating the blaring of sirens to help clear their path -- is often the difference between life and death for those in their care.

Two fire stations currently serve Summerlin almost exclusively -- Station 7, located next to the emergency room at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 Town Center Drive, and Station 47, at 911 Ridge Pine St., a short distance from the Las Vegas Beltway.

Statistical data provided by Tim Szymanski, the man in charge of public information and education for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, show a combined increase in activity at the two stations, from approximately 3,200 calls in 2006 to almost 4,000 calls last year. That's an average of almost 11 calls a day, which involves sirens blaring through Summerlin.

"About 91 percent of what we respond to is medical in nature," Szymanski said.

He explained that what was once loosely referred to as "the fire department" officially became "fire and rescue" in 1999.

"That's when we got into ambulance service," in addition to the traditional responsibility of firefighting, he added.

In essence, the fire department became equipped to transport the sick and injured to hospitals, and its role became broadened into an agency of "dual response."

That would make sense when you consider the fact that it has always been a fundamental responsibility of the city to respond to the protection of its citizens. Until the late 1990s, the transportation to hospitals of those in need of emergency medical care was left primarily to private ambulance services.

"Since we incurred that responsibility, our fire engines, in addition to their capability to fight fires, have become paramedical units, meaning we have at least one licensed paramedic on every fire engine that responds to any call," Szymanski said. "In reality, our trucks are no longer just fire engines."

While the trucks provide life-saving equipment and personnel with emergency medical expertise, the ambulance remains the obvious choice for transporting patients.

Of course, ambulances, which accompany fire engines in response to all calls, must be staffed by state-certified emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, licensed in accordance with health and safety standards. The same qualifications apply to those aboard the fire trucks. That means all firefighters must have the necessary medical training to be licensed EMTs.

Furthermore, at least one member of every engine and ambulance crew must have the extra level of training which qualifies them as paramedics. They need to spend six to nine months in additional intensive studies before they become certified.

"Paramedic training is not mandatory for our people, as is EMT training. But they receive extra compensation once they become licensed paramedics. It's very demanding work, sometimes involving 24-hour shifts. And that can be very stressful," Szymanski said.

Herb Jaffe was an op-ed columnist and investigative reporter for most of his 39 years at The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. He is the author of the novel "Falling Dominoes." Contact him at HJaffe@cox.net.