The Right Tools for the Job
A carpenter wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to hang a picture. A welder wouldn’t use a blowtorch to light a candle. And a gardener wouldn’t use a backhoe to plant a flower garden. It’s common sense to match the right tool for the right job.
But that’s not currently how we respond to emergency calls in San José.
Right now, medical emergencies comprise 94% of the calls to which our Fire Department responds. Yet each response – whether its for someone who is having trouble breathing, has had a workplace accident, or is intoxicated – is given the same treatment as a response for a fire. That means sending out a fire truck or engine with a full crew of at least four firefighters.
This response standard is a holdover from a time when the fire department predominantly responded to fire emergencies. However, over time, fires have become much less common, thanks to better building standards, the use of smoke detectors and other safety improvements. We can applaud our fire department for its efforts to reduce the number of fires.
But now that the types of emergencies have changed, so must our response.
The San José Fire Department (SJFD) has been piloting a program that would deploy SUVs or vans, staffed by a firefighter and a paramedic, to medical emergencies. By deploying these smaller crews, SJFD can cover more ground more quickly. And SUVs, even the most fuel inefficient, get far better mileage than fire trucks, meaning that we’re cutting down on gas costs and carbon emissions.
This is an innovative, smart idea that makes sure we’re using our resources wisely. It will save money, manpower, and fuel. But we only have five of these squad cars right now – we need to expand this fleet, supplanting the same trips made by heavier trucks and engines.
As part of my plan to improve public safety, I’ve proposed expanding this program. This isn’t a popular idea in some political circles, but it’s one that makes sense. As the old saying goes, there’s a tool for every task and a task for every tool – let’s make sure we’re matching the right tools to the right tasks.
Read more about my safety plan here. Watch last night’s NBC Bay Area story. And let me know what you think – I want to hear from you!