By Bill Carey
SA国际传媒
CHICAGO 鈥� Chicago firefighters are raising concerns about the city鈥檚 shortage of paramedics and ambulances, which they believe compromises public safety.
The firefighters plan to protest at next week鈥檚 NASCAR event and outside the Democratic National Convention in August to call for improvements to be included in their new union contract, reported.
鈥淭here are days every day where the alarm office is saying, 鈥業s there an ambulance available? Is anybody available?鈥� Battalion Chief Patrick Cleary said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 in the entire city, and then, in the meantime, they鈥檙e calling on the engines and trucks to report to those scenes until an ambulance can get there.鈥�
Cleary, president of the firefighters鈥� union, and Battalion Chief Tony Martin of the firefighters鈥� pension fund, both say that working conditions have become so poor that burnout is at an all-time high, especially for paramedics, due to a staffing shortage.
They and their fellow firefighters plan to march in protest down Michigan Avenue during next month鈥檚 NASCAR Street Race event and at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Cleary and Martin said that paramedics worked nearly 230,000 overtime hours to staff the city鈥檚 80 ambulances last year, and they are on track to do the same in 2024.
The fire department sends a fire truck or engine to medical emergencies when no ambulance is available. Of the city鈥檚 161 fire trucks and engines, 74 must have at least one paramedic to provide life-saving assistance until an ambulance arrives.
A significant paramedic shortage often leaves the city without any on fire apparatus. CBS Chicago found records showing that on June 16, 12 fire trucks and engines lacked the required paramedics.
Cleary and Martin also said the shortage affects the firefighters鈥� well-being.
鈥淚t just demonizes, you know, how they feel about work, coming into work,鈥� Cleary said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e upset. They鈥檙e overworked, and now, they鈥檙e treating patients. It鈥檚 not good.鈥�
