In an attempt to improve the city's poor emergency response times, Mayor Nutter is proposing an extra $3.8 million in funding for Philadelphia's emergency medical services. The full budget won't be unveiled until Thursday. See the full release after the jump.
MAYOR NUTTER AND FIRE COMMISSIONER AYERS ANNOUNCE NEW INVESTMENT IN
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Philadelphia, February 12 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced this morning that his upcoming budget will contain $3.8m in additional funding for Philadelphia’s Emergency Medical Services. These funds will be directed towards additional response vehicles, increased levels of personnel and new supplies and equipment, all aimed at the goal of reducing emergency response times.
“These additional resources underline our commitment to increasing our investment in Philadelphia’s emergency response services,” said Mayor Nutter. “The money that will be contained within the Budget for the coming fiscal year will build upon the improvements that the Fire Department has already initiated.”
At a press conference at the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Emergency Operations Center the Mayor and Fire Commissioner outlined plans to invest the additional resources in:
Two additional Emergency Medical Service Units in FY09 (with a further three vehicles in FY10)
Funding for 40 new EMS medics and overtime for existing medics
Supplies and equipment
Continued expansion of units to 24/7 operation as needed
The five-year strategic plan which will be published on Thursday in conjunction with the Budget builds on critical improvements that are already underway including:
Increasing medic units from 28 full time units to 33 full time units
Increasing PEAK time units from 45 peak units to 50 peak units (Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm)
These improvements, combined with other initiatives, such as the creation of a 311 call center and increased public education regarding 911, will further help to reduce the burden on 911 and EMS medics.
Also present at the press conference were Councilwoman Krajewski, Councilwoman Miller, Councilman Kenney, Councilman Kelly, City Controller Alan Butkovitz and Brian McBride, President of the IAFF Local #22.
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.