Accurately measuring work
Nicholas V. Cagliuso, B.S., EMT-D
Brooklyn, New York
I am writing to clarify certain points brought up by William F. Crapo in his March 1998 response to my letter that appeared in the December 1997 issue.
Concerning my use of the word “overinflated” in my letter, it can be seen I did not directly quote him using the term. My intention simply was to paraphrase him, adding my view of the current fire service budget situation in the United States.
Regarding his attempt to explain the fact that an agency doing 40 percent fewer fire runs than it did 20 years ago does not equate with an equal reduction in the average “work” load is simply unsupported. Gauging the amount of work a fire agency does cannot be measured simply by using runs as a unit of measure. Realistically, the true amount of work is measured by the amount of structural fires or “workers” operated at, and, as an even more precise measure, the actual number of hours units operate at fires involving structures that are occupied.
Run statistics are mere fluff. They help build up a system`s numbers, since they include all the nonsense that both fire and EMS systems are subjected to. They are great to distribute to the media and to the public-at-large, since they build up numbers, but they have very little statistical significance in determining a system`s true workload. Work is work and runs are runs, and they must not be used interchangeably.
What truly boggles my mind is the fact that Crapo continues, even in this response to my letter, to attempt to minimize the significance of emergency medical responses. What does “Medical responses are just the fire service`s `politically correct` response category” mean? Regardless of how an EMS system is based–private, municipal, volunteer, or otherwise–saving human lives is not something that is done merely to fit into today`s selfish, materialistic, politically correct environment. Just ask the EMTs and paramedics who have selflessly dedicated their lives to saving human lives while often simultaneously earning significantly less than their firefighter counterparts. Saving lives is not politically correct, it is morally correct. It is imperative that the members of the fire service who hold this negative opinion toward EMS realize that in many cases EMS work will justify their existence.
The metaphor of the fire service running on a treadmill is an excellent one. It is unfortunate that some continue to look outside the fire service for excuses for being unable to get off it.
I sincerely appreciate Crapo`s response to my letter. I could not agree with him more in that it is only through our sharing of opinions that we will find the right formula. I am thankful for his openmindedness and appreciate his acknowledgment of my opinions.
