You’ve seen the term “First Responder” in print or mentioned by a presidential candidate or two.
Addressing Medical Emergencies
The relationship of First Responders to ambulances is unique to EMS.
Law enforcement officers can also fulfill the role of First Responder.
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We want to think of the ambulance screaming down the street with the lights flashing and the siren wailing.
There is never going to be an emergency more important thanouremergency.
Most of the time, however, minutesdon’tcountat least not for ambulances.
That doesn’t meansomeoneshouldn’t get there quickly, but it doesn’t have to be an ambulance.
Its a simple rule.
The only way to verify responders were always there on time would be to flood the system with resources.
That doesnt happen because resource availability costs money.
This creates competition between the fiscal realities of cost and the expectation of service by residents.
If each ambulance could answer more calls for service per hour, the need for additional resources is eased.
It becomes a balance that can be seen in a system that is properly managing its resources.
For this reason, many municipalities measure response times as a proxy for the health of the EMS system.
The lower (AKAfaster) the response times, the better the system is performing.
Should First Responders Be Paramedics?
Paramedics are more expensive.
Once these things have been started, the emergency has been halted or at least slowed.
Using BLS first responders helps make it affordable.
Steps three and four can be done by any ALS or BLS responder, ambulance or fire engine.
Steps five through seven require paramedics and must have ALS responders, a fire engine, or an ambulance.
Step eight needs an ambulance.
A first responder knows how to help.
