Atlas Twp. – A 12-minute response time for paramedics to reach Atlas Township residents in a medical emergency may not be fast enough.
The recent decision to put six new paramedics on the road should improve response time, says Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
‘I think within a year you’ll see a significant improvement,? he said.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Department paramedics are highly trained emergency responders who are also deputized police officers.
County paramedics are automatically dispatched to any emergencies involving Atlas Township Fire Department, said chief Jim Naugler.
‘Our paramedics do an awesome job,? he said. ‘We definitely want them there as quickly as they can get there.?
Sheriff’s paramedics are spread throughout Genesee County, including the City of Flint, roving in specific districts like Atlas Township-Goodrich-Grand Blanc as well as areas like Otisville, Montrose, and Argentine Township.
Area newcomers who have moved to Atlas Township from Oakland County often expect firefighters to be paramedics, said Naugler.
‘We tell them, ‘We don’t live at the station, we’re on-call firefighters.?
Although the Atlas Township Fire Department is licensed as a first-responder unit, paramedics are crucial in a medical emergency, says the fire chief.
‘The paramedics are the life-saving key,? Naugler said. ‘We can do CPR-they can administer drugs to keep life going. ?
Of the six paramedics who have been hired and are on the road, four are certified police officer-paramedics, and two are preparing to attend police academy this summer.
The deputized paramedics don’t participate in police calls, said Pickell. When not responding to medical emergencies, look for paramedics to write speeding tickets and provide added police presence in the community.
The present county-wide 10-year paramedic millage, which expires in 2006, is sufficient to cover the approximately $450,000 required annually to pay salaries, vehicle costs, and benefits for the new paramedics, said Pickell.
‘We’ve been prudent with how we’ve spent the money,? he said, contrasting the sheriff’s department with for-profit ambulance services. ‘We turn a profit and put it back into the business.?
Pickell hopes eventually to hire another six paramedics.
‘I want to get the response time, county-wide, down to five minutes. Most calls are cardiac, and minutes are crucial.?