BAMATTRE'S PLAN FOR ADDING 50 PARAMEDICS IGNITES SKEPTICISM.Byline: Jordan Smith Jordan Smith (born November 4, 1985 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) was a professional ice hockey player who was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim of the NHL. Playing career Jordan Smith was promising defenceman prospect for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Staff Writer 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. Chief William Bamattre told City Council members Monday that he plans to add about 50 paramedics by Christmas to help solve a dire shortage. But union members at the City Council's public safety committee meeting said the plan is not realistic because ``emergency'' personnel cannot work for more than eight months, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. city policy. A series of Daily News stories recently outlined the severe shortage of paramedics, which has led to massive overtime expenses and stress. Bamattre said the department hopes to speed 50 recruits, already certified as paramedics, through department training in November. That would put them on the streets in time for the holiday season - the busiest for the city's 56 ambulances. ``Our direction and focus is in developing a one-month EMS (Emergency Medical Services An Emergency medical service (abbreviated to initialism "EMS" in many countries) is a service providing out-of-hospital acute care and transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient believes constitutes a medical emergency. ) drill tower beginning the second week in November, which would finish prior to Dec. 20,'' he told the committee, made up of council members Cindy Miscikowski Cindy Miscikowski represented the 11th District on the Los Angeles City Council for two full terms from 1997 through 2005. Previously, she was an aide to Councilman Marvin Braude and the Executive Director of the Skitball Cultural Center in its beginning stages. , Nick Pacheco Lauro "Nick" Pacheco, Jr. is an American attorney, politician, and a member of the Democratic Party. Pacheco served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council (1999-2003). and Joel Wachs. Bamattre said he also hopes to begin another training class in January, also made up of ``emergency'' hires - as proposed by Mayor Richard Riordan. Riordan's plan called for the hiring of up to 100 paramedics to fill emergency appointments. Union members questioned how the department can attract candidates to jobs that would last just eight months. ``There hasn't been any thought process on this,'' said Ken Buzzell, president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. ``If you're going to hire people, hire them.'' Bamattre and other city officials have acknowledged it would be difficult. Union and Fire Department officials plan to meet next week to seek a solution. Pay, benefits and pension are also factors the city has not considered, Buzzell said. Bamattre said the emergency hires would not be eligible for standard benefits and pension. The hiring also hinges on the renewal of a civil service classification that would enable the department to hire paramedics without requiring firefighter training. The roles of firefighter and paramedic par·a·med·ic n. A person who is trained to give emergency medical treatment or assist medical professionals. paramedic were consolidated in 1992, creating one dual-function role. |
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