SOUTHWICK – Earlier this week, Chief Russ Anderson of the Southwick Fire Department discussed his budget plans for the upcoming year.
The majority of Anderson’s budget revolves around being able to acquire ALS (Advance Life Support) members for the fire department.
Currently and in the past, the department has used basic life support, which involves EMT’s (Emergency Medical Technicians).
ALS would allow the department to have paramedics, which would be a major benefit for not only Anderson’s staff, but for the whole community.
“It increases your patient care,” said Anderson.
If there is a life-threatening emergency in town, the paramedics will be able to respond a lot quicker and more effectively than having an ambulance drive to the nearest hospital.
Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson discussed his ideas for the department’s budget at last week’s Select Board meeting. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
“Those things that would start in the emergency room, are starting with the paramedics,” said Anderson.
The Select Board supported Anderson’s interest for ALS moving forward.
“We intend to be very diligent this year on going to ALS,” said Select Board Chairman Russ Fox.
In order for ALS to be fully effective for the fire department, all of the proper equipment and supplies will be costs that the town of Southwick will need to give a closer look at.
Once the Select Board, the Finance Committee, and other town officials finish the budget process in the later months, the proposal for ALS will go to a vote at the annual town meeting in May.
In the case that ALS would be approved, there would be a long process ahead for it to be completely implemented into the department.
The license for ALS would take about three years, as training would have to be implemented as well as other requirements. Once the town and the fire department would finish that process, ALS would be able to be used 24 hours, seven days a week.
Anderson said that ALS paramedics and EMT’s would start working on shifts together, especially at crucial times of the day. According to Anderson, about 70% of the department’s calls happen between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
But, for now, Anderson is glad that the Select Board is in support of ALS as the process moves forward.
“This is a huge commitment for the Select Board and the town,” said Anderson. “We’ll pursue it together.”
