Editorial: Fire Department plan good for public safety

What some might view as a small change in how the Albuquerque Fire Department responds to emergency calls could result in a big improvement for city residents in need of help.

The Fire Department is seeking City Council approval to purchase $998,000 of Lifepak 15 defibrillator units, which are used to monitor and treat patients. The purchase will allow it to implement a plan to assign a paramedic to fire engines and, conversely, a firefighter to rescue units. Right now, two paramedics ride together in a single rescue unit.

Fire Chief James Breen says, “This is the biggest change we’ve had in the last 30 years.”

What makes it so big is that by switching occupants and adding some equipment, the department will more than double the number of units available for calls that have a paramedic aboard — from 20 to 42. And doing so will reduce response times by 17 percent — or about 47 seconds on average. As anyone who has waited for a rescue squad can attest to, every second can seem like an eternity. And seconds can make a difference in a patient’s odds for success.

More than 60 paramedics are expected to be moving to engines, while 57 regular firefighters move to rescue units.

It’s a good reallocation of resources that can save lives. The City Council should get on board without delay.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.