City Switching to Firefighters as Paramedics

The Ventura city Fire Department has finally taken the first step toward running its own paramedic program--the first fire department in the county to do so.

As long as anyone can remember, Ventura’s ambulance service has been contracted out to private companies.

Although firefighters often arrived on the scene first, they couldn’t do much more than administer first aid. Serious life-saving techniques were left to contract paramedics riding in contract ambulances.

“The average response time has been 10 minutes,” Fire Chief Dennis Downs said Wednesday.

“We know our Fire Department can get there in six minutes. Four minutes are critical during an emergency medical situation. Try holding your breath for four minutes.”

The Fire Department can also serve the public more economically than Ventura’s current provider, MedTrans Inc., Downs said.

“Because we have lower overhead costs, we can provide the service for about $80 cheaper per call,” he said.

MedTrans charges an average of $550 per emergency call. The Fire Department estimates it will charge about $470.

The program itself will cost the city nothing, Downs said. The Fire Department has borrowed about $600,000 from the city for start-up costs, but will pay back the money with interest. Costs are expected to be borne by those who use the service.

Currently, the Fire Department has only seven paramedics--all working out of one station on Ventura Avenue--and no ambulances, just shiny red fire engines.

But by July 1, when the city’s contract expires with MedTrans, the department will have several ambulances and 20 paramedics, Downs said.

Firefighter Tom Weinell said he is pleased with the change.

“I’ve been a paramedic for six years, but I couldn’t help victims because of the contract” with the professional ambulance company, Weinell said. “It was very frustrating because we always arrive first and time is of the essence in a medical emergency.”

So far, the new crew at the Ventura Avenue station has already helped save three lives, firefighters said.

“We helped one woman with a severe heart problem and had her all ready to go when the ambulance arrived,” Firefighter Tammy Crudo said.