CA - Residents decry cut in paramedic service

[WAS967 97]

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,...2294737,00.html

Residents decry cut in paramedic service

By Rodney Tanaka , Staff Writer

COVINA -- Helen Yoffe, 73 and a diabetic, wants to know that paramedics will

respond quickly if she needs them.

"When you have problems, that's when you worry,' she said. "I think it's

very important to everyone in this city that they keep' the paramedics.

Yoffe is worried about a pilot program that ends Saturday. For the past

year, it more than doubled the number of paramedics on duty at anytime in

Covina from two to five.

During recent budget deliberations, however, the Covina City Council dropped

the program to save $144,000.

Fire officials say the extra personnel one firefighter trained as a

paramedic on each of the city's three engine companies didn't make much of a

difference.

But some residents say they now fear lives could be threatened by the

increase in response times.

William Mason, a Covina resident since 1980, said the city has an aging

population and an increasing population that requires additional paramedics.

"They need to go back and amend the budget and find the money someplace to

put paramedics back in place,' he said. "It's the single most important

thing they can do for residents.'

Having one paramedic squad reflects the same service offered in Glendora,

San Dimas and other neighboring cities, Covina City Manager Paul Philips

said.

Residents didn't complain about service prior to the pilot program, Philips

said.

The paramedic program is an emotional issue, Mayor Kevin Stapleton said, but

the Los Angeles County Fire Department reported that the pilot program was

not adding to public safety.

"If there was a legitimate advantage to having that coverage, we would have

it,' Stapleton said.

Paramedic units from surrounding cities serviced by the Los Angeles County

Fire Department are also available to Covina if needed, Assistant Fire Chief

Daniel Scott said.

According to Scott, the pilot program's added personnel did not make a

difference in critical situations.

"We believe we will have the same success that we had before the program,'

he said.

The firefighter/paramedics will be given other assignments beginning Aug. 1,

Scott said, and they will not be laid off.

Debbie Iketani, a San Dimas resident serviced by Covina Fire Station 153,

said the report on the pilot program is not accurate, and paramedics

responded to many more "immediate life threats' than reported.

Iketani said she talked to five paramedics in Covina, one mentioning 20

calls requiring glucose injections - which can't be performed by emergency

medical technicians.

City officials said they would welcome any additional information or

comments about the program.

Councilman Walt Allen III said he initially supported trying out the pilot

program, but joined the rest of the council in allowing the Fire Department

to determine if the program changed service levels.

Surrounding cities have the same service as Covina, Allen said, and their

citizens are not complaining.

"It's unfortunate some are painting the council as not caring about adequate

public safety,' Allen said.

Mary Rossi, 65, is diabetic and has had a lung transplant. She wants the

pilot program to continue.

"I always like to know somebody's there for us in case we need it,' she

said.

Is it just me or does this seem overly frugal? Cutting three paramedic spots to save a measly $144,000/year? Give me a break. ](*,)

[x635 4,066]

Westchester is just as "frugal" when it comes to ALS.

At least they have two medics for the city, lol!