Excerpts from RRStar.com: It's a bit ironic, but just like social service agencies aim to reduce their own necessity, fire departments also work toward becoming less needed. They do this by promoting safety and prevention rather than just responding to emergencies. While many municipalities require new homes to have smoke detectors, fire departments often go the extra mile by offering free detectors to residents of older homes and conducting home safety inspections. In commercial buildings, especially high-rises, automatic sprinkler systems are now mandatory. Even the number of wildfires caused by discarded cigarettes has dropped significantly—by 90% according to the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station. The result? A nationwide decline in fires. Rockford is no different. In 2014, the city reported 638 structure and non-structure fires, a 20% decrease compared to 796 in 2005. Despite this drop, the Rockford Fire Department’s call volume has been increasing by about 3% annually. Last year, out of 26,010 calls, only 2.45% were for actual fires. An impressive 80% of those calls were related to emergency medical services (EMS) or search and rescue operations. This surge in medical calls is largely driven by the aging Baby Boomer population. For example, between January 1 and September 30, 2014, 20 individuals made a total of 192 emergency room visits at SwedishAmerican Hospital. In response, the Rockford Fire Department partnered with SwedishAmerican Hospital to launch a pilot program called Mobile Integrated Healthcare. The initiative targets "frequent fliers"—individuals who regularly use emergency services. A small group of around 20 people was selected to receive home visits from a team that includes an EMS coordinator and nurses trained in case management and social services. During these visits, Bob Vertiz, the EMS coordinator, checks for fire hazards, while the nurses ensure patients are following their medication schedules and attending doctor appointments. They also address any other health concerns the patients may have. "Most of the people using our services have real health issues," said Knott. "The goal of mobile integrated healthcare is to connect them with the right support. Simply picking someone up and taking them to the hospital isn’t always the best solution. What they need is long-term care, and that’s what this program offers." The results of the pilot program are expected to be shared at the November Rock Stat meeting. While expanding the program might cost money in the short term, it could lead to significant savings over time when you consider the costs of repeated ambulance and fire truck responses. "It’s not just about saving money," Knott added. "Our main concern is the well-being of our patients." Heather Schafer, CEO of the National Volunteer Fire Council, noted that volunteer fire departments are seeing similar trends—fewer fires but more EMS calls. Many of these departments operate with limited resources compared to full-time fire departments. "Many departments are asking firefighters to be cross-trained, and funding is a big challenge," she said. "Between training, equipment, and vehicle costs, it's not cheap." Cherry Valley Fire Protection District Chief Craig Wilt explained that his department has 15 full-time and 30 paid-on-call firefighters. He said that 75–80% of their calls are related to EMS. "As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, we expect the number of EMS calls to keep rising," he said. Although OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center offers free paramedic training, Wilt pointed out that certification can take two years. This means that when firefighters are in training, others must be paid overtime to maintain staffing levels. To reduce this cost, Wilt said, "We now hire only full-time firefighters who are already certified paramedics." This approach helps cut down on training time and ensures better preparedness from day one. Double Cartridge Mechanical Seals Double Cartridge Mechanical Seals Dual Cartridge Seals Mfzjs,Cartridge Slurry Pump Seal,Mfzjs Slurry Pump Seal Sichuan Zhongying Industrial Pump Co., Ltd , https://www.zygyb.com