FIRE DEPARTMENT GIVES VITAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Public education, code enforcement and mild winters are among the reasons Cape Girardeau's fire officials give for a significant reduction in fires in the city over the past few years. This is good news. At the same time, the number of responses by the fire department for emergency medical services has gone up. This is good news too.

Not that anyone wants to see more people in need of emergency medical care. But the fire department's role -- first started in 1993 -- as first responder in emergency medical situations has played an important role in getting lifesaving care to those in need.

Each time an ambulance is called in an emergency situation, fire crews respond. They usually reach the scene first, because fire stations are spread out all over town. There is a high comfort level when emergency help arrives quickly in times like these.

One suggestion: The fire department might consider specially equipped emergency response vehicles for these calls rather than sending out the big fire trucks. The smaller vehicles would be able to travel more quickly without tying up a piece of equipment that might be needed to fight a fire somewhere else.