County’s Paramedic Policy Out of Line

* Most of the citizens of this county believe that when they call 911 for a medical emergency, the firefighters who show up at their doorstep are paramedics who are able to provide lifesaving techniques such as intubation, IVs and drug therapy. This is absolutely false.

Although the firetruck arrives first to the vast majority of calls, the firefighters are not allowed by the county Board of Supervisors to provide these essential services. The county subsidizes the private ambulance companies hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for service to the indigent. When the fire personnel provide oxygen, CPR, bandaging and a whole list of services to the public, the ambulance companies are allowed to collect money for these services from the patient to increase their profit.

I am proud to live in the city of San Buenaventura, where the City Council voted not to allow the county Board of Supervisors to risk the lives of the its citizens by hopping back into bed with big business. The county health care agency under the direction of the Board of Supervisors will no longer be allowed to make our city’s residents endure longer response times before advanced life support is started.

On July 1, 1996, the Ventura city Fire Department will have paramedics on all of its fire engines. This will result in faster response times and reduced costs to the taxpayers of this city.

I would like to commend the City Council and Fire Chief Dennis Downs for their progressive thinking. I would also like to invite the Ventura County Board of Supervisors--and, in particular, Supervisor Frank Schillo, who sounded like a salesman for CareLine ambulance company at the recent board meeting--to wake up.

H. LEE HEISE

Ventura