Rumors were wrong about response time
After a situation in early February, rumors emerged that it had taken the Antioch Fire Department 30 minutes to respond to a call for ambulance service at the Antioch Upper Grade School for an injured child. Here are some facts and data to dispel the rumors.
The fire department received this emergency call as it was responding to two prior emergency ambulance calls for service, utilizing the two ambulances that remained after a failed referendum in November forced the cutback of the department's third ambulance.
Our goal is to be at the door within six minutes of a 911 call. Even if all the staffed ambulances are busy on other emergencies, the fire department staffs two Advance Life Support (ALS) fire engines staffed with firefighter/paramedics that can deliver the same immediate lifesaving care as an ambulance but cannot take a victim to the hospital.
On this particular call, the Antioch Fire Department had an ALS engine respond to the location of the injured child in five minutes, 21 seconds from the time the department received notification. This allowed for definitive emergency medical care to be delivered in less than six minutes while a transport ambulance could be acquired.
The ALS engine also requested assistance from a neighboring community for an ambulance. That ambulance was at the emergency site 18 minutes, 50 seconds from the time of the initial 911 call and safely transported the patient to the hospital.
While occasional calls for assistance from neighboring communities are reciprocal and graciously given, they cannot become the standard to cover the rising call volume in the Antioch community (over 2,700 calls in 2014). Additionally, it is not a stretch to say additional cuts in funding and staffing could make a rumor like this a reality.
The Antioch Fire Department strives to deliver a comprehensive list of emergency services that now include both Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and fire service to the 36 squares miles of the Antioch community. The proud members that serve are there to deliver expedient, compassionate and exemplary care.
We encourage you to reach out to us when you hear things that don't make sense or meet your expectations.
Jon Cokefair, Deputy Chief Antioch Fire Department