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Message
re: What are the OT's thought on the EMS/BRFD merger?
Posted on 8/14/25 at 4:33 pm to trixie
Posted on 8/14/25 at 4:33 pm to trixie
quote:
It is another attempt at a money grab by the BRFD. Since day one, they have been trying to get their hands on EMS money
I have been noticing that some local Fire Departments are creating their own EMS departments.
I guess if you follow the money, Acadian must be mad that their once held monopoly is being eroded away by supplemental ambulance services by local fire districts.
0
Posted on 8/14/25 at 5:02 pm to tha real thang
Makes a TON of sense and will save the taxes payers money, which can then be used to improve EMS.
EMS will still maintain the same branding, training, and funding, but will give up some of the duplicated administrative task that can be done under one umbrella. This will make the agency more efficient.
No need for two different public information officers/spokesman for each agency to tell people to stay cool when it’s hot. The list of duplications is massive. This is one of many.
EMS will still maintain the same branding, training, and funding, but will give up some of the duplicated administrative task that can be done under one umbrella. This will make the agency more efficient.
No need for two different public information officers/spokesman for each agency to tell people to stay cool when it’s hot. The list of duplications is massive. This is one of many.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 5:28 pm to The People
Tell me you know nothing about Advanced Prehospital Care without saying it out loud.
Respectfully. You really believe they are doing this to eliminate redundancy of a PIO and other MASSIVE redundancies?
You got to clean your own house before you take over the neighbors and show them how it’s done.
Respectfully. You really believe they are doing this to eliminate redundancy of a PIO and other MASSIVE redundancies?
You got to clean your own house before you take over the neighbors and show them how it’s done.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:02 pm to OptionRight
Funny story. True fact.
When EMS started, the Department, to avoid a duplication of services, shared a mechanic shop. EMS hired two new mechanics from the Fire department, bought equipment and tools. Yeah, saving money right? If the EMS mechanics were not working on EMS units, they could work on fire trucks, but EMS units had priority. Great deal for BRFD right? New tools, equipment and two mechanics EMS is paying for. Then the union got involved, after Firefighters complained about the EMS mechanics getting pulled off fire trucks to work on EMS units. New contract, new fire chief and boom, BRFD mechanics could no longer work on EMS units. The two BRFD mechanics that were hired for EMS, out of a job. EMS had to start using the Central garage with the DPW units.
This is what will happen if EMS goes under the BRFD. New Fire Chief, new union contract and EMS will once again bear the brunt of whims of people who have no clue about prehospital care. There is nothing to protect EMS budgets in training, equipment, or personnel. There is a huge Nationwide shortage of Paramedics and EMTS. How in the world are we gojng to attract new employees if there is no chance of any advancement? They have no voice as all rank must be a firefighter. They have no protection no say. The union and Fire Chief have all the power and EMS is a stepchild generating revenue. If you do not think every dime will be squeezed out of EMS to benefit the BRFD, I have some swamp land to sell.
All BRFD sees is the EMS milage and revenue generated, and getting rid of Firefighters having to respond to medical calls.
When EMS started, the Department, to avoid a duplication of services, shared a mechanic shop. EMS hired two new mechanics from the Fire department, bought equipment and tools. Yeah, saving money right? If the EMS mechanics were not working on EMS units, they could work on fire trucks, but EMS units had priority. Great deal for BRFD right? New tools, equipment and two mechanics EMS is paying for. Then the union got involved, after Firefighters complained about the EMS mechanics getting pulled off fire trucks to work on EMS units. New contract, new fire chief and boom, BRFD mechanics could no longer work on EMS units. The two BRFD mechanics that were hired for EMS, out of a job. EMS had to start using the Central garage with the DPW units.
This is what will happen if EMS goes under the BRFD. New Fire Chief, new union contract and EMS will once again bear the brunt of whims of people who have no clue about prehospital care. There is nothing to protect EMS budgets in training, equipment, or personnel. There is a huge Nationwide shortage of Paramedics and EMTS. How in the world are we gojng to attract new employees if there is no chance of any advancement? They have no voice as all rank must be a firefighter. They have no protection no say. The union and Fire Chief have all the power and EMS is a stepchild generating revenue. If you do not think every dime will be squeezed out of EMS to benefit the BRFD, I have some swamp land to sell.
All BRFD sees is the EMS milage and revenue generated, and getting rid of Firefighters having to respond to medical calls.
This post was edited on 8/14/25 at 6:14 pm
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:12 pm to Shexter
Correct to access the severity of injury or BS call to keep advanced life support available hence emergency medical services
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:20 pm to MikeD
quote:
Could make emergency response more efficient. How often do you see both a fire truck and ambulance at a house
Using that logic, let's go ahead and merge the police department into the mix as well.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:34 pm to upgrayedd
quote:
What’s the point of the merger?
Mostly for the city to have adequate employees/applicants. Most major cities have EMS and Fire combined. Not hard to find guys that want to be Firemen, a lot harder to find guys who just want to be a medic. By combining both, firemen are forced to ride the box for a couple year then transition to just fire/engine. Downside is the quality of care can go down because they are forced to to the EMS side of the job
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:42 pm to MikeD
Mike D - Fire is still dispatched as first response due to number of station locations and they begin care til EMS arrives. If anything the FD should turn out some Paramedics in a pilot program or something?
This is the reverse of growth. There are cities that wish they could have their own Dept of EMS, and they are disbanding a successful one to put INTO BRFD?
This is the reverse of growth. There are cities that wish they could have their own Dept of EMS, and they are disbanding a successful one to put INTO BRFD?
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:49 pm to Dragula
quote:
Most major cities have EMS and Fire combined
That’s how we do it in Shreveport albeit I’m now retired. Shreveport Fire has been running the ambulance for decades with FFs. Just a fun tidbit, Ruston fire is the first fire department to take control of ambulances in Louisiana and rumored to be the first in the south to do it.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 6:54 pm to trixie
quote:
BRFD and EMS are two completely different skillsets and training.
This is dumb. I've lived in Arlington County where they were merged. Most firemen were also EMS certified.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 7:01 pm to DiamondDog
Comparing the State of Texas EMS services to La. EMS is Apples and Peas bruh
Posted on 8/14/25 at 7:14 pm to OptionRight
quote:
Comparing the State of Texas EMS services to La. EMS is Apples and Peas bruh
Shreveport and Bossier fire departments handle running ambulance with no problems. Everyone is cross trained.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 7:29 pm to DiamondDog
Exactly just what is EMS certified? Just what does that mean? Who issues this EMS certification?
Is this a First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, or Paramedic? All three with different levels of training and skillsets. I seriously doubt every Firefighter is a Nationally Registered Paramedic or even a Emergency Medical Technician for that matter
Is this a First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, or Paramedic? All three with different levels of training and skillsets. I seriously doubt every Firefighter is a Nationally Registered Paramedic or even a Emergency Medical Technician for that matter
Posted on 8/14/25 at 9:36 pm to trixie
Posted on 8/14/25 at 9:44 pm to tha real thang
Here is what is really happening.
St. George tax dollars are leaving thd C-P general fund. The general fund pays for BRFD which only provides fire protection for the city of BR.
On the other hand EMS is a parish wide service funded by a parish wide property tax.
The way I see it, the powers that be sre trying to take parish money to support the city’s fire department once again.
How can you merge a city service with. Parish wide service? You can’t.
St. George tax dollars are leaving thd C-P general fund. The general fund pays for BRFD which only provides fire protection for the city of BR.
On the other hand EMS is a parish wide service funded by a parish wide property tax.
The way I see it, the powers that be sre trying to take parish money to support the city’s fire department once again.
How can you merge a city service with. Parish wide service? You can’t.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 9:50 pm to doubleb
quote:
How can you merge a city service with. Parish wide service? You can’t.
I’m out of the loop and don’t know if this is still the case. As of say 10 years ago, Ruston fire department was running ambulances and rescue for their entire parish. Can’t remember name of parish, but there is a volunteer parish department that runs fire and Ruston would do fire just in the city. So Ruston would do fire in city only, yet run ambulance and rescue for entire parish. It is a very strange setup
Posted on 8/14/25 at 9:59 pm to Mushroom1968
quote:
I’m out of the loop and don’t know if this is still the case. As of say 10 years ago, Ruston fire department was running ambulances and rescue for their entire parish. Can’t remember name of parish, but there is a volunteer parish department that runs fire and Ruston would do fire just in the city. So Ruston would do fire in city only, yet run ambulance and rescue for entire parish. It is a very strange setup
EBR Psrish is served by several fire departments. BRFD is one of them.
Our EMS is a parish wide service.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 10:10 pm to doubleb
quote:
EBR Psrish is served by several fire departments. BRFD is one of them. Our EMS is a parish wide service.
There’s major cultural differences between fire departments in north La and south La. South L many just do not want to be involved in ems, complete opposite in north. I’ve trained with many in south La over the years and always mention departments who only sit around and wait on fires is a dying department. It’s all about leadership and personnel. I don’t know much about BR FD as it stands now. The shift crews need to want to be involved with ems and perhaps ambulance in order for it to work. None of the guys I remember training with back then wanted anything to do with ems. I’ve always heard good things about BR ems.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 10:13 pm to tha real thang
The former EMS people that I know ow absolutely despise the merge
Posted on 8/15/25 at 12:24 am to trixie
quote:
Fire Department and EMS mergers typically result in a huge decrease in clinical treatment standards. The Gold Standard for EMS departments providing quality is a separate free Department of EMS.
So much this.
Combined systems have terrible ambulance care. The reason? Firefighters are now EMTs when they only wanted to fight fires. Many of them are lazy about learning the medicine because it was never their interest.
Because of this, the medics I worked with in bumfrick Alabama provided 100x better care and better handoffs than what I get working in DFW where it’s all combined.
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