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University Heights and three neighboring cities press Cleveland over volunteer EMT delays; mayor urges residents to call 911
Summary
The mayor said University Heights and three neighboring cities sent a letter to Cleveland's medical director about delays involving a volunteer EMT group and urged residents to call 911 in emergencies after reported dispatch delays of 5–30 minutes in at least 30 incidents.
University Heights Mayor (name not specified) said the city and three neighboring mayors sent a written request to Cleveland’s medical director asking for a meeting and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) after reported delays by a volunteer emergency medical service that has been responding in the region.
The mayor told council that the four cities — University Heights, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and South Euclid — asked Dr. Rafi Israeli, Cleveland’s medical director, to meet and to discuss a proposed MOU. The mayor said Cleveland declined to meet with the group and has not responded to the proposed MOU.
The mayor said the cities’ concern stems from “at least 30 separate incidents” in which the volunteer service was called and arrived later than the city’s professional emergency responders, producing delays “typically being 5 to 20 minutes, but sometimes up to 30 minutes or more.” The mayor added, “When seconds count, delays in medical treatment caused by delays in calling 911 are not acceptable.”
The mayor told residents the correct first action in an emergency is to call 911 so the full emergency response system — including the city’s fire department and mutual aid partners — is activated. The mayor said residents may also contact the volunteer service after calling 911 but that calling a different number in place of 911 risks delayed advanced life support interventions.
City officials said the four cities held a meeting with mayors, fire chiefs, police chiefs and law directors and invited representatives of the volunteer organization and Jewish Federation security to discuss a coordinated response. According to the mayor’s remarks, Cleveland representatives declined the joint meeting.
The mayor said the city copied state medical authorities on the letter and will “take further actions as necessary to protect the public.” No formal council vote on the letter or a council directive was recorded during the meeting.
The mayor emphasized that mutual aid agreements remain in place and urged residents to default to 911 in emergencies.
