July 6, 2000 Group say paramedic-firefighters shouldn't have to join squads
By TIM MCGLONE VIRGINIA BEACH -- The Council of Virginia Beach Rescue Squads, which represents the city's 11 volunteer rescue squads, has voted to recommend the city abolish a rule that requires firefighters trained as paramedics to join a rescue squad. The issue has headed a list of complaints raised by the city firefighters' union. The city is considering making the change, but no decision has been made yet. The city requires all firefighters trained in advanced life support to ``affiliate'' with, or join, a rescue squad. City officials maintain that the city Department of Emergency Medical Services can then oversee the firefighters' training and knowledge of the Beach EMS system. Some firefighters, however, claim the rule forces them to join a rescue squad they don't want to join, or one that's not near their home. Many are already employed by or volunteer at rescue squads in other cities. They see it as a duplication. The Council of Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squads makes recommendations on policy that typically are approved by the EMS administration, according to Ed Brazle, a spokesman for the Department of EMS. However, in this case, the administration is still studying the affiliation rule to determine if there is a way to end it without losing oversight of firefighter-paramedic training, Brazle said. A committee of firefighters and EMS personnel is studying ways to improve emergency medical services, including dropping the affiliation rule. The committee is expected to issue a report to the city manager's office this month, according to Oral Lambert, the city's chief operating officer. Kevin Lipscomb, a spokesman for the council, said the affiliation rule is outdated and no longer necessary. ``We're confident that the public will be served well even without the affiliation rule,'' he said. |