Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District responded to a record 1,948 medical calls in 2004.
In 2003, the fire department responded to 1,689 calls. Three years earlier the department’s medical call load was running in the 1300s. The call load spiked to more than 1,700 calls before settling into the 1,600s for the next three years.
The department’s staffing levels went from six to eight paid paramedics during that time, with the last paramedic position added in July.
It seems that every three years or so, the number of medical calls jumps 200 to 300, Fire Chief Mike Beaver said.
“It’s just been busy,” Chief Beaver said. “Everybody’s really picked up the slack. A lot of people have been coming in from off duty for call back.”
The department has had numerous multiple call situations over the past year, Chief Beaver said. “Two out at the same time is very frequent. It’s daily.”
Three or four out taxes the system, but that’s not happening as often.
“I will be budgeting for that other position,” Chief Beaver said. That would round out the department’s shifts, with three paid paramedics on each day. “Whether or not it makes it through the budget process, whether it works, I don’t know.
“There’s always concerns whenever you have 259 additional calls you didn’t have they year before. The main thing is to staff ambulances and get out there when people need us.”
To that end, Sweet Home has tapped mutual aid and provided it to other departments. Chief Beaver doesn’t expect that to end any time soon. Both Lebanon and Albany have increasing call loads.
Chief Beaver and Battalion Chief Doug Emmert met with Lebanon and Albany fire officials to figure out ways to deal with the call loads. They know they won’t be able to add medics or equipment.
They didn’t come up with a plan other than to try to make paramedics working a call available sooner, Chief Beaver said. When medics are writing reports at the hospital, they have been unavailable. Under this plan, they would contact central dispatch and become available while still at the hospital. The departments will continue to provide mutual aid to each other.
The reason for the rising call load is probably a combination of factors, from an aging population to a growing population, Chief Beaver said, but he doesn’t think there is a single definitive reason.
“We’re trying to provide the best service we can with the people we have, and I feel we’re taking care of that,” Chief Beaver said.