Doesnotgetit is exactly right.  Fire just wants to provide better care as you are waiting for that ambulance from Arvin or Mojave.   Your taxes already pay for fire to be there.  The law would require them to be trained and equiped just like the amulance company.   The air ambulance is used alot more now as it rightfully should.  It only seems to be used a lot more because it is, why, because Harvey HALL now owns it....Can we say ELIMINATE the competition??  $$$$

Let's pay our fire department more money.  What's wrong with that? 

Where would we get the extra bucks?  I say we cut the wages of city hall employees every time they 1) miss a deadline, 2) fix something that isn't fixed correctly and spend our money to fix it again, 3) approve another mini mall in Historic Downtown Tehachapi, 4) take a kick back from Benz (don't you love they way Benz "decorates" along the 58? - which by the way, is part of Historic Downtown Tehachapi) and 5) take a kick back from Hall Ambulance in order to keep them a monopoly. 

We'd have all the money we needed - could probably increase the size of our fire department, build another station, even pay for the education to make them all doctors. 

I know - we'd have to prove "kick back" those allegations. What would I give to be able to audit the books ...

I suspect that "we" are really "they" when it comes down to it. I am gradually succumbing to the potential fact that "humans (any) + government administration = constant level of inefficiency." I hate to say this, but I'm not sure that getting in there ourselves (the proverbial "we") would really change a lot. Communication and involvement can help (when officials are not doing that well). If someone could "fix" the things we write about, wouldn't they already have done that years and years ago (I mean our thoughts have been going on long before computers--we did it via in person and letters)? I suspect there is always going to be this oscillating level of inefficiency and error in judgment (depending on human frailty of those currently involved and level of leadership--or lack thereof), and of course, no one is going to do it the way "I" want it. Just thought I'd offer the thought without being too apathetic. Obviously, we want it to be the best it can be, accepting the fact governmental operations are just not going to be perfect or measure up to the successful part of the profit making sector.

Thanks for your input, Active. But it sounds to me like you might belong to the school of "ya' gotta go along ta git along" and I just can't accept that. I think there are enough worthy people left in this world who could actually affect a change...and, a change for the better. I subscribe to the school that says EVERYTHING can always be improved and I admit I am an incorrigible optimist. I believe that WE, The PEOPLE, can start at the grassroots level and move it on "upstairs" to Washington by sending them a message that we will not longer accept their greed and incompetence. If we keep throwing them out over and over until we get people who will truly REPRESENT US, we shall have taken back the roots of our founding fathers and once again, become the great country we were at one time in our history. Why the hell else does everyone in the world want to come here to enjoy our freedoms? And then, even be free to rail AGAINST us once they are here?

 I know it's an idealist theory but I won't be badgered into breaking down by our own incompetent 3 Chambers of government in Washington, D.C.

I would encourage you, and everyone else, to start at the local level and attend the City Council meetings. There are 2 people there who's seats are up next year and need to be replaced by people like Stan Beckham, who listens to the people and actually REPRESENTS THEIR views without imparting anything of his own agenda. It begins HERE, and from HERE we need to start sending messages to the County. From THERE, to the State and guess where we can go from there. We CAN, MUST and SHALL make a difference. I hope you will join in this effort because we can use your input and energy and point of view.

Jim Richards

Let me just say that Yes Harvey has a helicopter. He gets it from the same company that owns Mercy Air. Mercy Air covers Tehachapi, and Hall covers Bear Valley unless one of the two are not available which happens alot.

WOW! I can't believe I got 51 responses to this blog already. I guess local people believe very strongly in this issue.

I was originally asked by ShaneThe Pain to post this blog but don't know whatever happened to him now? Can anyone suggest a definitive affirmative effort we should pursue to address this problem?

Jim Richards

Lets get all the players together.  Fire dept, EMS., Harvey Halls, maybe even our supervisor(photo op :+) and try and figure something out...

Yesterday I had to call an ambulance for my Mother because she was unconsious and was not breathing right. It took the ambulance what seemed like a long time to get here ( Alpine Forest) but it probally was only a matter of a few minutes. The fire department arrived first and they were great.

My problem was with the ambulance driver it was obvious that he was from " out of town " because he became lost and then stopped at the corner and got out and spent some time doing something. I almost got into my vehicle and asked him if he wanted to follow me to the hospital? I was really upset at this and am thankful it was not a matter of life and death.

 

Coolfire suggested getting together and forming some sort of formal group. Go for it, Coolfire and count me in. Lay out some kind of plan and let's DO something more than just gripe to each other about it!

Jim Richards

 eekitsaspider, I think I know who you are and if you have a brother, who your brother is(JS?). I believe he used to work for Hall Ambulance in Tehachapi and other places. Am I right"? I am sorry you may have experienced a long response with your mother. I hope she is doing well.  I know there is a need for a second ambulance in Tehachapi and from what I hear it is in the works.

Citizens of the Tehachapi area need not just a second ambulance but two stations. One on the West and one on the East. With the growing population and the ever constant call volume increasing( I hear sirens almost all the time) we may need more than just TWO ambulances. We need to have the ambulance company make us a primary concern for another ambulance. Hopefully with enough press and pressure we all can make it happen. The crews up here are worn out half the time due the constant running of calls and transfers out of the place we call a hospital. What can Tehachapi Hospital deal with anyways? A cut finger or a cold? What can the Hall Paramedics do that fire cannot? I know that some uninformed people in the area would like to know. I think it was suggested in another blog around a month ago that Hall hold a community meeting and tell us there plans and maybe attempt to ease our minds. We need more than just a small little clip in the local Paper(Sorry Tehachapi News, You do a great job!). And how many of us have called EMS or Hall to get info? I have. Didnt get much but I did. Have a nice evening.

Anonymous the response was probally not really long it just seemed like it. It only seemed like it because I wanted them to hurry up and help her. The fire department arrived and they were AWESOME!!! My problem was that the medics were from out of town and did not know the area. The driver was lost and went the wrong way to get out and then decided to stop at a corner for some unknown reason, which delayed them getting her to the hospital.

But my Mother is doing good and is going to be transferred out of ICU this afternoon into a regular room and hopefully she can come home within a day or two. We are keeping our fingers crossed and once she gets home we are going to start getting Hospice.

And as for my brother working for Hall's I would rather not say yes or no.

Well from my understanding most of the Hall Ambulance employees are from out of town and all everyone says is that the ambulance is from Mojave or Arvin. Maybe that explains it. Stoppping at the corner? Maybe the medic was starting a IV or something. Starting one of those isnt easy in a moving vehicle I would think and if your mom was in ICU she must not be in good shape to begin with. I am glad she is doing better. I am sure there is another side to this story. Too bad we can not speak with the medic and get his side. Too many times people rush to judgement on half truths and only get parts or broken pieces of the story. I wish that people who have never been in the EMS Profession would just be quiet. They are a group of very proud professional people who do a job sometimes with little recognition and little pay. They do it because they care. Then when someone gets a wild hair up their butt the uneducated about EMS public go hog wild on blaming anyone they can, like the crew who was at your house.. Their are lots of places in this area that are still considered rural. Eek even noted she lives in Alpine Forest, then complained because it took to long. I can tell you there is not going to be a ambulance station next to you anytime soon. Another thing is that County/State/Federal are all supported by taxes. Private ambulance like Hall/Care/Kern/Liberty/Delano/AMR and the like are only supported by what they make in profit from insurance and private citizens actually paying their bills. They dont get a bunch of tax dollars. Also CountyCity Departments and such get grants and payments from different programs and that is how they afford these rural stations better. Private Ambulance is a business just like Kmart and or Starbucks. Unfortunately it not always dictated by what is right but by money and if there is no profit in, then it is not good business sense to have more than you can afford and lose money. Otherwise there would be no Ambulance at all. Think about that. That all being said I have heard that their is a new ambulance station coming and in the not too distant future. Maybe faster than this hospital we keep looking for and havent got. The public needs to have patience. It will come. Have a nice night YA'LL. Im out to dinner with my wife.

trucker1...I've been trying to stay out of this Hall issue, because I no longer live in the area.  But for goodness sake "READ" the comments.  Eek had said twice it wasn't a time issue really  "but it probably was only a matter of a few minutes." and "the response was probably not really long it just seemed like it. It only seemed like it because I wanted them to hurry up and help her."  This is called panicking to the non-EMS personnel. Eek acknowledged this.  Most people are a little irrational when it comes to an emergency because we DON'T have the training.  So I guess it goes both ways doesn't it trucker1.  Don't rag on the EMS workers but don't rag on the common people who don't have training.  And by the way, it has been said over and over and over and over and over that this blog is against Hall not the EMS workers.  There has normally been only great things that are said about these men and women.  If anything, the comments posted have been in favor of more pay etc.  If you a Hall supporter good for you, but don't cloud the issues.  I have nothing but great things to say about EMS personnel.  Just like Doctors, they are human and sometimes they make mistakes.  Sometimes we think Doctors are some type of a God, but they are not.  But I have yet to see a EMS person that wasn't compassionate and caring.  Sometimes they have to be a little "hard nose" because they are dealing with irrational, panicking patients that think they know it all.  I have personally thanked and apologized (my mother can be a bit overwhelming sometimes) to an EMS and their response was "it's ok, they are scared and it's our job".  Not to mention how they are wonderful on calming people down.  When my son was 4 he had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and by the time I took him home he made out like bandit.  He had pen lights, toys, stuff animals, etc all from the EMS.  So, again, they good people and if we didn't have them we would be worse off. 

Trucker, I agree with Colitas- you obviously are connected with Hall's (which isn't that bad). People on here aren't ragging on Hall's, they just want better coverage. Hall's say they are going to do it, but they continue to spout that they are within County guidelines. We don't care if they are within guidelines, we just want better coverage for better patient care. Hall's is making a bundle and can  afford to improve coverage in this area.
People aren't complaining about his employees as I believe there are some of the best medics assigned to the Tehachapi station. As far as the fire department being supported by taxes and grants etc., sure they are and we can expect that they provide better coverage because we pay for that, but we can also have them provide ambulance coverage (for added taxes) if the private sector can't do it. We have a good system with Fire Department and Private ambulance responding together, but the private ambulance needs to keep up with the growth of the area as the Fire Department has and is doing.

Trucker1 - There is no reason for individuals that have no background in EMS to stay quiet, have you heard of a little something called freedom of speech. Those individuals have just as much a right to get on here an voice their concerns as you do. They are all resident of this area and deserve to have the best possible service, and that means having 2 ambulances available all of the time. It seems to me that you just like to get on here and spout your own opinions and then get all pissy when someone doesnt agree with you. Grow up this isnt grade school. Everyone has a right to expect a high quality of service especially from public safety. This town needs to ambulance stations, one in town and one in Golden Hills, they also need another fire station in Golden Hills. That will help provide the level of service that this growing town needs. This town needed the Golden hills fire station and the 2nd ambulance 5 years ago.