81 NEW PARAMEDICS IN PLAN MAYOR CALLS FOR HIRING TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.Byline: Rick Orlov Orlov (Орлóв) is the name of a Russian noble family which produced several distinguished statesmen, diplomatists and soldiers. The family first gained distinction in the person of four Orlov brothers, of whom the senior was Catherine the Great's Staff Writer SHERMAN Sherman, city (1990 pop. 31,601), seat of Grayson co., N Tex., near the Red River; inc. 1858. Originally on a stagecoach route, it is a highway and railroad junction. Manufactures include electronic equipment, processed foods, military equipment, and metal products. OAKS - Seven months after taking emergency action to temporarily solve the city's paramedic par·a·med·ic n. A person who is trained to give emergency medical treatment or assist medical professionals. paramedic shortage, Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. on Tuesday Tuesday: see week. announced plans to hire 81 new paramedics. Standing in front of Fire Station 102 on Burbank Boulevard with other city officials and a crew of firefighters, Riordan said the plan will be part of a $40 million increase he is proposing for the Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. , including the hiring of 60 new firefighters. ``Every minute counts when responding to a medical emergency,'' Riordan said. ``We want to improve response time by as much as two minutes in many parts of the city - minutes that can make the difference between life and death.'' Twenty fire stations - including three in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. - are now without paramedics, but would be staffed under his proposal if it is approved by the City Council. It would take effect in the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. ``This is a terrific opportunity for us to make sure every part of the city is protected,'' Riordan said. The three Valley areas now without paramedics are Fire Stations 70 and 103 in Northridge and Fire Station 75 in Mission Hills. ``We have to take crews for other nearby stations to respond to emergencies,'' Fire Chief William Bamattre said. ``That can add a minute and a half or two to our response times. That's not what we want.'' Bamattre said the department has a goal of responding to 90 percent of its emergency calls within five minutes. The response time now is 5.8 minutes, he said. Ken Buzzell, president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , said he was hopeful about the announcement, but wanted to see the details before endorsing it. ``We've heard a lot of talk before,'' Buzzell said. ``We want to see exactly what is called for and if these jobs will be permanent.'' In September, after a series of articles in the Daily News detailing problems within the paramedic services such as short staffing and forced overtime, the city hired 100 temporary paramedics. Instead of requiring them also to be trained as firefighters, the city agreed to let them work solely in the emergency medical field. Following the newspaper's articles, Riordan convened an emergency medical task force to analyze the department's needs. Riordan aides said many of those temporary paramedics who were hired are expected to be retained by the LAFD LAFD Los Angeles Fire Department LAFD Los Alamos Fire Department LAFD London Association of Funeral Directors (UK) . The announcement Tuesday was the first in a series Riordan is planning as he prepares to release his proposed 2001-02 budget later this month. The LAFD has the second-largest budget in the city's general fund, at $357 million - behind only that of the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . . Riordan said the paramedic improvements are expected to cost $10 million this coming year. The funds will be used to pay the salaries of the new paramedics - giving the city 549 paramedics out of the total 3,160 LAFD staff - and to purchase 10 basic life support ambulances, five new rescue ambulances and training. Funds also are provided to replace 11 ambulances. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: With city Fire Chief William Bamattre, left, and other officials to back him up, Mayor Richard Riordan announces plans to hire more paramedics during a news conference Tuesday at Fire Station 102 in Sherman Oaks. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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