EL PASO, Texas -- The newly-appointed fire chief wants to make changes in the department, starting with paramedics. He said there aren't enough for the growing city. Elvira Prieto has worked for the El Paso Fire Department for 13 years, nine of those as a paramedic. She's learned that most calls that come in to her fire station are medical calls. She said more firefighters who are also paramedics are needed. "It would alleviate the burn out. We definitely run a lot of medical calls due to the expansion of El Paso. We need more paramedics to help alleviate burnout," said Prieto. That's what the newly appointed fire chief wants to do. Currently, the El Paso Fire Department has a contract with Texas Tech which it provides two six-month paramedic training classes. But for the last three years, firefighters have had only one opportunity to attend because of overtime issues. Fire Chief Otto Drozd wants to change the format of the classes. "Firefighters work a 24-hour shift. The first 12 hours they'll be going to paramedics school, and then we'll have them available for the second 12," said Drozd. Drozd said this way the fire department benefits because it will still have enough firefighters and paramedics available to work and it also benefits the firefighter because he or she doesn't have to sacrifice his or her family time. "A couple of classes throughout the year would definitely help us out," said Prieto. Drozd said he wants to make two paramedic classes available for firefighters.
Copyright 2009 by KFOXTV.com.
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