Gender: female Member Since: August 25, 2007 Last Signed In: February 23, 2008 Profile Views: 71 Blog Views: 2325 Harvey Hall Fighting Paramedic Service By Firefighters Move our EMS standards from the Amish level tothe current century! Move our EMS standards from the Amish level to the current century... August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 
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Move our EMS standards from the Amish level to the current century...
Some little known information (from my point of view) about EMS (Emergency Medical Services) in Kern County:
Some of the Kern County firefighters as well as those working for the City of Bakersfield are Certified Emergency Paramedics. However, when they respond to a medical aid call, they are restricted from performing their duties as a Paramedic--they are only allowed to perform as an EMT, which is basically administering first aid and using the automatic defibrillation units that anyone with a current CPR card is trained to use. Their paramedic skills, including starting an IV and administering life saving fluids and drugs, are unable to be used. Why , you ask? Well, that is because Hall has the contract to provide ambulance service in this county and is not allowing anyone other than his paramedics to provide advanced life support services. So, the firefighter/paramedics that respond and arrive first on the scene of a medical aid have to wait until the Hall paramedics get there. Why is he doing this? The only reason I can think of is perhaps he is afraid someone else is going to get a piece of his pie. He may be afraid that if Kern County trains firefighters to be paramedics or allows the firefighters that are currently paramedics to use their skills, that they may eventually want to put ambulances at their fire stations, putting his sweet little monopoly to an end. Now that the problem has been identified... What is the solution? Kern County firefighters need to be able to function as paramedics. In most California counties and cities, firefighters are paramedics also. They already respond to all medical aid calls, so providing advance life support services could easily be implemented. That way, the Kern County firefighter/paramedic could immediatley begin to provide the advanced life support care that the people of Tehachapi and especially the outlying areas, need. Once Hall's ambulance arrived on the scene, report can be given, both the Kern County firefighter/paramedic and Hall's paramedic can work together to stabilize the patient. Once stabilized, care is transferred to Hall's paramedic and the patient is transported to the hospital by Hall's ambulance. This frees the Kern County firefighter/paramedic to return to his fire station, and keeps the level of EMS/fire supression at the level it has always been. Why isn't this being done? Well, do you think the City of Bakersfield, with Hall as their MAYOR, are going to complain? Who would they complain to? The MAYOR, WHO ALSO OWNS THE AMBULANCE COMPANY? Do you really think the Kern County Board of Supervisors are going to rock the boat and go up against Mayor Hall? It would probably be the end of their political careers. What are some other considerations? Well, training a firefighter to be a paramedic can be costly to the county. It takes that firefighter out of service while he attends the 6 mth paramedic program. It would be a huge expense covering his shifts and paying for the program. To minimize the financial impact, some cities/counties are now requiring that any new firefighter recruit hired must have already have completed paramedic training as well as the required Fire Science degree. But if the firefighter/paramedic training had been implemented years ago as it should have been, the impact would have been spread over a period of time. However, it is not too late to begin to provide the same level of service that most Californians, even those residing in rural areas, receive every day. 70 comments from 21 users
posted by
coolfire
on Sep 11, 2007 at 05:22 PM
Where is Watson???
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 11, 2007 at 05:27 PM
He is having dinner with Mr. Hall.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 11, 2007 at 05:31 PM
and a movie with Maben
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 12, 2007 at 07:12 AM
Hey Mark Corum. Do you see now what kind of company you work for? Will you continue to be the lier for this greedy man? You have some talent, why not try another job?
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 12, 2007 at 08:22 AM
He has been found! Look up HallAmbulance under private profiles and send him an email inviting him to join us! Mark Corum has been found!
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 12, 2007 at 01:16 PM
I don't wonder at all, Most hall employees are idiots. I'd be very afraid of certain employees picking me up for a ride to the hospital. I know that there are some very professional EMT's and paramedics associated with Hall's. I also know that there are some really "not very smart ones" as well. They are the ones that you see running around with their chests poofed out and their little radio clutched in their little hands. Some are verrrrry scarrrrrry. Yikes!!!! posted by
anonymous
on Sep 12, 2007 at 02:31 PM
''DITTO'' posted by
karenbailey
on Sep 12, 2007 at 10:30 PM
Harvey Hall and Ray Watson just took away Pine Mountain's weekend ambulance service and insulted us with paternalistic garbage in the process. Since we have a vocal group working toward ALS Fire Fighter Paramedics for all rural areas; Watson said we didn't love Hall well enough to keep his service. Of course Hall also wanted bundles of money from us on top of our tax dollars. Anyone want to bet that our budgeted fire station (to replace our condemned one) well go away next? Or maybe our just added third firefighter will disappear next? posted by
coolfire
on Sep 12, 2007 at 10:40 PM
I'm fairly certain the third firefighter position will not go away. If your refering to a fire station in Pine Mountain going away, a strong hunch would say not likely.
posted by
concernedcitizen
on Sep 12, 2007 at 11:53 PM
Welcome Karen, it is good of you to join us. We need to present a united front in order to push for Kern County Firefighters to become paramedics in all rural areas. I stumbled on the Mountain Enterprise yesterday and have been reading the articles--and have been astonished at some of the problems your community has and is facing regarding EMS coverage. Let your friends about this blog so they can join us as all input is welcome.
I also want to make sure that this blog doesn't turn into a "Let's Bash Hall Ambulance," even if Hall is at the root of the problem. If I have time tomorrow, I am going to make a few phone calls. I'll let you know what transpires. posted by
Firemedic
on Sep 15, 2007 at 05:42 PM
Wow, Has anyone thought that we should become a united front and use all our energy in getting this issue of EMS/Firefighter-Paramedics resolved as a group instead of using this BLOG to express our frustrations? A lot of it is great information, but the communities need to rally together in order to make change in this County! On to another issue that makes me laugh...... Where do I begin.... (Sorry for jumping around with the subject matter) I read an earlier comment by a person named "anonomous". He or she must work for halls out of Frazier Park or Kern EMS. And I have to agree that this person must not of past the fire depts testing process and is pretty bitter towards the Fire dept. The issue with AMR posting at the flying J and coming up into frazier park is to cover Lockwood valley/Hungery valley (located in Ventura County). This went into effect just this last week. (Hmmmmmmmm Not many people knew about that happening, unless you work for Halls or Kern EMS) The reason for this is because Halls pulled out of LA/Ventura Counties and was providing only a BLS ambulance staffed 7a to 7p along with the ALS rig out of Frazier. The other reason is because Kern EMS sent a letter to Ventura EMS just last week that Halls would no longer be providing service into Lockwood valley or Hungry Valley.... So, AMR out of Ventura was left no other choice but to post a rig at the Flying J. As for some of his or her other comments it is obvious they are PRO HALLS/Private paramedics services. The calls that the fire departments respond to are 85% EMS and the rest are fires or misc incidents.... As for Dr's not trusting Fire dept Blood pressures, I find that hard to believe..... You might as well lump the private medics and EMTs in there as well as providing false BP's.... NO ONE IS PERFECT... But to make a statement about the Fire dept not trained in EMS and they should just stick to putting out fires is a joke! If you worked for a fire dept you would realize that EMS is shoved down our throats and that we maintain a high level of compentency! Yes, there are those firefighters who are weak in the field of EMS but I would say it is pretty much equal across the board with Ambulance EMT's and Paramedics as well. I have witnessed both sides of the fence and if you disagree then you are either blind or just close minded. And last but not least, your comments about LA County fire medics are behind all that goes on in PMC is just a bunch of BS as well. The citizens of PMC are just as much a part of this whole mess. Just ask Karen Bailey who's husband died at home while waiting over an hour for Halls to arrive. Anonomous, please get your facts straight before expressing your views on the subject. I don't see halls carrying the JAWS of life in the near future to extricate patients trapped in cars or repelling over the side to rescue individuals trapped on cliffs. So unless you know something that the general public doesn't, please share it with all of us! Because the fire department is here to stay and Firefighter/paramedics are coming to Kern county weather you like it or not. Have a great day and hug a firefighter next time you see one. :) Who knows he or she may be the one who comes to your rescue while your waiting for the private ambulance to arrive. PS: Bad info was put out about 20 kern Firefighters are in Paramedic school.... It is only "6" enrolled. And as for where they will be placed who knows? It could be in Tehachapi, Walker basin, Frazier Park etc... That decision is up to the Fire Chief of Kern County, not the residence of PMC.
posted by
doesnotgetit
on Sep 15, 2007 at 06:49 PM
Last week was a milestone for the Tehachapi Valley. Hall ambulance opened their 2nd station in the Valley. Their new station is in Golden Hills. Why was this not the headline for the paper this week? Maybe because they already are having staffing problems. The last 2 days it was closed because they couldn't get anyone to work there. They are also bring their BLS ambulance up here so be aware. The life they might not save could be yours.
posted by
concernedcitizen
on Sep 16, 2007 at 11:04 AM
All right everyone...now is the time for us to take real action. I do not nor have never had any affiliation with Halls or even know anyone working for Hall or KCFD. I am just tired of having to wait for a paramedic (along with the KCFD EMT"S) when my neighbors call 911. I have also stopped and assisted on several car accidents with multiple victims, only to have just ONE paramedic on the scene, but lots of fire dept personnel wishing they could do more. I have never started a grass roots organization, and welcome anyone else to join me and see if we can get a group going to do one thing: Increase the the level of EMS services and allow the KCFD to become medics. Granted, six are enrolled in medic class now, but that is a drop in the bucket compared to the size of Kern County rural areas that need to be serviced. Without a "push" and some monitoring from a citizens group, similar to what Pine MN. is doing, I am concerned that this much needed service will die out and peoples lives will remain at risk.
My qualifications? Many years ago I was a volunteer firefighter paramedic in a rural area in Arizona. I am an RN but not currently working. Please email me and let's set a date and time to meet together to see what we can do to improve our community! My email is jyvn8@sbcglobal.net. If you have any ideas, please contact me. posted by
anonymous
on Sep 16, 2007 at 11:58 AM
For not having any connection with either organization, you seem to know a lot about the issue. Sounds like the battle is over. Hall now has two units in Tehachapi. Good for them. Now leave it to the politicians and fire department to work out the future. posted by
Firemedic
on Sep 17, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Hello again, to all who read this blog! I would like to reach out again to all who are concerned about Patient care in your communities.... No matter if it's a private ambulance service or the Fire Department providing Paramedic service along with the private ambulance provider, everyone in ALL the outlying communities in Southern Kern County need to be rally together as a group. Power in numbers will get the point across to the Board of Supervisors, individuals will not. Mr. Watson has PMC climbing up his back, other communities need to start flooding their district supervisors office with Emails and phone calls if you want change, as you have done with the 2nd ALS ambulance! Better yet, all communities should rally together and go to Bakerfield and attend a BOS meeting. Fill the room and let your supervisors hear your concerns about prompt patient care in a timely matter. Other supervisors see Watson getting all the flack from PMC and I'm sure they are glad it's him and not them! Well, that needs to change! Speak up and let your voices be heard. Why let all your energy be wasted in this Blog site? I would be happy assist in getting people together from all communities to resolve our patient care concerns, weather it is provided by Private ambulance or the Fire Department. I have spoke with "concernedcitizen" (It was good talking to you!) and I would like to see more people like her step up and want to get to the bottom of this EMS battle in Kern County. Let's all work together and make change in Kern County. You elected these individuals on the BOS to represent your communities. Isn't about time they represent YOU instead of against YOU? I appreciate all who are concerned about your loved ones health and well being.... Please don't stop here! |
