http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/FF/21380 For those who are interested, there was a Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb 12th that covered having Firefighter Paramedics on Kern County Fire engines in rural areas of Kern County. Areas like Bear Valley and Stallion Springs among other rural areas that have a delayed ambulance response and delayed life saving services. If you have time watch the video coverage, it is about&nbsp;2 hours long,&nbsp;but there is some good information, and might interest those that live in those areas where ambulance service is 30 minutes to an hour away. Many of you might not know that the ambulance companies see dollar signs instead of a patient that needs life saving care. They are trying hard to keep the fire dept from adding Firefighter Paramedics that could start life saving care one they arrive on scene instead of waiting for the ambulance that could be 20 minutes away, care that could drastically increase the chance of survival for that patient. So those of you that are worried about the possibility of losing a loved one due to the greed&nbsp; of the ambulance company. I know that I would not want to risk losing a child, spouse or any family member. The cost would only be an additional $65,000 a year per station, for the 12 designated stations to have paramedics at these stations, $65,000 seems small to saving the lives of those that need ALS care. Watch the video and form your own opinions, and if you have concerns write or call your local supervisor Heres the link: Website:http://kern.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&amp;clip_id=421&amp;publish_id=&amp;event_id= Jump to the Emergency Medical Services portion. For those who are interested, there was a Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb 12th that covered having Firefighter Paramedics on Kern County Fire engines in rural areas of Kern County. Areas like Bear Valley and Stallion Springs among other rural areas that have a delayed ambulance response and delayed life saving services. If you have time watch the video coverage, it is about&nbsp;2 hours long,&nbsp;but there is some good information, and might interest those that live in those areas where ambulance service is 30 minutes to an hour away. Many of you might not know that the ambulance companies see dollar signs instead of a patient that needs life saving care. They are trying hard to keep the fire dept from adding Firefighter Paramedics that could start life saving care one they arrive on scene instead of waiting for the ambulance that could be 20 minutes away, care that could drastically increase the chance of survival for that patient. So those of you that are worried about the possibility of losing a loved one due to the greed&nbsp; of the ambulance company. I know that I would not want to risk losing a child, spouse or any family member. The cost would only be an additional $65,000 a year per station, for the 12 designated stations to have paramedics at these stations, $65,000 seems small to saving the lives of those that need ALS care. Watch the video and form your own opinions, and if you have concerns write or call your local supervisor Heres the link: Website:http://kern.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&amp;clip_id=421&amp;publish_id=&amp;event_id= Jump to the Emergency Medical Services portion. en-us <p>Also there was some misinformation by one of the Dr. from Mercy Southwest. He stated that Kern County Fire does not provide airway management which is crucial in life saving care. The Kern County Fire Dept uses a combi-tube that is like entubating the patient, but takes most of the error out of it, the tube has 2 ports, so if the tube is placed in the esophagus you can still ventilate the patient through an alternate port into the trachea. This allows the patient to have life saving airway management.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/FF/21380/#c_196546 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/FF/21380/#c_196546 <p>Also there was some misinformation by one of the Dr. from Mercy Southwest. He stated that Kern County Fire does not provide airway management which is crucial in life saving care. The Kern County Fire Dept uses a combi-tube that is like entubating the patient, but takes most of the error out of it, the tube has 2 ports, so if the tube is placed in the esophagus you can still ventilate the patient through an alternate port into the trachea. This allows the patient to have life saving airway management.</p> <p>I agree Shane, that issue was not even addressed.  There are many firefighter that are Paramedics RIGHT NOW that work for the fire dept. but can not use their skills ONLY because they lack  the equipment and drugs.  It is heartbreaking to have to watch a patient die only because you don't have the equipment needed to save that person.   You know you can make a difference in someones life and have the training but just lack the stuff to do it.  If the fire depts became equipped with medic supplies, I think many firefighters would go to medic school on their own just to be able to help more people.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/FF/21380/#c_197352 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/FF/21380/#c_197352 <p>I agree Shane, that issue was not even addressed.  There are many firefighter that are Paramedics RIGHT NOW that work for the fire dept. but can not use their skills ONLY because they lack  the equipment and drugs.  It is heartbreaking to have to watch a patient die only because you don't have the equipment needed to save that person.   You know you can make a difference in someones life and have the training but just lack the stuff to do it.  If the fire depts became equipped with medic supplies, I think many firefighters would go to medic school on their own just to be able to help more people.</p>