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Loganville fire chief says department meets ISO Class 2 standards; council asks about paramedic capability
Summary
Fire chief briefed council on response-time factors, training, ISO rating and use of Lucas devices; council asked whether the department could add paramedic-level cardiac drugs, and the chief said that would require licensure, staffing and pay changes and he will research costs and options.
The city's fire chief gave a detailed overview of response-time metrics, training requirements and the department's ISO Class 2 rating. He explained factors that affect response time (dispatch handoffs between two counties, training schedules) and said the department chooses to respond on some medical priority calls because county ambulance resources are limited.
"The average national response times for fire services is between 5 to 7.5 minutes," the chief said, and described steps the department takes to earn ISO credit for training, inspections and investigations. He highlighted the department's use of Lucas mechanical CPR devices and said they have improved outcomes.
Council asked whether the department could carry advanced cardiac drugs (an ALS/paramedic-level capability). Staff said adding paramedic-level drugs would require changing minimum staffing and licensure, 24/7 paramedic coverage, and additional ongoing costs for personnel and medication management. The chief said he would research models and costs and return with numbers within a few months for council consideration.
