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University Heights fire chief warns uncoordinated volunteer EMS response risks lives, urges council action
Summary
Chief Perko told the University Heights City Council that a volunteer ambulance service operating outside the 911 system has caused delays, miscommunication and unclear medical oversight; he urged the council to pursue integration and legislation to regulate non-911 EMS services.
Chief Perko, Fire Chief of the University Heights Fire Department, told the City Council on June 16 that uncoordinated volunteer emergency medical services operating outside the 911 system have caused operational delays, communication gaps and unclear medical oversight that pose risks to patient care.
"Public safety must remain above politics," Chief Perko said. "For any emergency, fire, medical, police, always call 911." He said volunteer responders can be valuable complements to professional crews but only when integrated with unified dispatch, shared protocols and joint training.
Perko described multiple incidents since January when Hatzalah Cleveland began operating in the city, saying the volunteer group maintains a separate hotline and parallel dispatch process that can delay activation of advanced life‑support crews. He cited one April 28 case in which volunteers were on scene and 911 was not contacted until about two hours later; Perko said paramedics arrived…
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