City considers ways to improve emergency response times

Savannah Fire is often much quicker than the EMS provider.

Savannah frequently uses ladders to bridge divides between the ground and windows in fighting fires.

For better than two years now, city firefighters have been addressing another gap: the difference between how long it takes them to arrive on the scene of an emergency and the arrival of an ambulance and a paramedic.

The response time lag is significant: Savannah Fire is on scene in 4 minutes, 20 seconds or less — often much quicker, according to data from the Chatham 911 center. By contrast, the local EMS provider, Chatham Emergency Services, typically isn’t on scene before the 15-minute mark in even the

most dire situations.

Under Georgia law, the Savannah city government can’t offer ambulance service and therefore wants Chatham Emergency Services “to be successful,” according to City Manager Jay Melder.

Yet the city supports reform efforts under consideration in the Georgia General Assembly, which include legislative changes that would give Savannah and other municipalities the option to transport patients via ambulance and thereby take over rescue services within city limits.

“Any bill that allows municipalities to choose their own destiny is a bill that we will support at the state level,” said Melder, who referred to EMS as a “cornerstone” service for public safety. “We want the ability to make the best decisions for ourselves and our residents.”

Melder said slowing response times are the “direct reason why” Savannah Fire has expanded its EMT capabilities over the last three years. The city implemented emergency responder services in December 2020. An Emt-certified firefighter responds to all serious injury and illness calls, along with requests for lift assists, within the city limits via firetruck.

Additionally, Savannah Fire requires all new recruits to possess or acquire EMT certification before they graduate from the firefighting training academy.

These emergency responders are trained in basic life saving skills, such as CPR, first aid for burns and wounds and the Heimlich maneuver. Advanced EMTS and paramedics, such as those employed by Chatham Emergency Services, are certified to provide more advanced care, such as administer diabetic and cardiac drugs, start an IV and perform intubations and tracheotomies.

According to Savannah Fire Chief Elzie Kitchen, the department plans to introduce emergency response vehicles to respond to non-fire calls later this year to “reduce our footprint but not our services.”

SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS Savannah firefighters from Engine 9 arrive on scene while participating in a vehicle accident drill recently. Department recruits must have EMT certification.