North County Fire adds ambulance for high call days

FALLBROOK – As the region has entered cold and flu season over the last several weeks, the North County Fire Protection District experienced an increase in call volume and hospital off-load delays.

As a result of this seasonal impact, the NCFPD will be staffing a basic life support ambulance during statistically higher call volume times to provide additional ambulance availability. The unit, which went into service Thursday, Dec. 8, will be positioned at NCFPD Fire Station No. 1 in downtown Fallbrook.

BLS ambulances respond to low-acuity level calls leaving valuable paramedic ambulances available for high-acuity level calls such as cardiac emergencies. Staffed with two single-role emergency medical technicians, the ambulance will be in-service Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., which is when agency data indicates that emergency incidents trend higher.

“As the region experiences our seasonal call increase related to cold and flu, this ambulance will provide valuable surge capacity allowing for shorter ambulance response times to our community,” NCFPD Fire Chief Keith McReynolds said.

Submitted by North County Fire Protection District.