Posted on 01/10/2016 8:38:58 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT
One San Diego firefighter was paid $210,500 in overtime alone in 2014, according to newly released figures about local government payrolls.
"It's a little extra bonus for the guys,"
(Excerpt) Read more at sandiegouniontribune.com ...
For the taxpayers, to bad so sad!
Doesn’t end here. He will retire after boosting his last year’s employment with overtime, accrued sick leave, accrued vacation at age 55 with a $200,000+ annual pension with full medical coverage. Public service employees are the true 1% here in California.
Think of the $$$$$ taxpayers could have saved if the fire dept. was better managed. Simply hire more firemen.
I give grudging credit to the building code and to fire suppression systems but actual we-have-to-put-this-out fires are rare. On the other hand, every time Granny slips on the sidewalk a pumper truck accompanies the ambulance to the site.
WHY?!?!?!?!
Probably not. In most cases you are better off paying OT than hiring more workers.
SS taxes, retirement fund payments and insurance cost raises the cost of more workers to the point of making it impossible to hire more workers.
That's exactly how the system is gamed. Retirement formulas generally make some sense, but then they are distorted by overtime and the like. And the solution is so simple. Make your retirement pay based on your base pay only.
Teddy Kennedy used and Oldsmobile as a weapon also.
Most Firefighters on the firetruck are trained Medic’s who have all the equipment necessary to assist the patient except for means of transport. Sometimes their response time is quicker depending on the location of the ambulance.
Because granny on the sidewalk often weighs 400lbs these days.
Shhhh! You are going to kill the job!
My mom fell a year ago and I got her up in the chair. She had the Flu and was real weak. I didn't want to chance taking her to the ER myself due to the outside Temps and ice in her driveway. I had concern she would fall again and I would not be able to get her in the car or I would fall and we would both be down. So I called an ambulance on their regular phone number. I also said non emergency. The VFD's got there first and I didn't know they had been dispatched.
They dispatch FD's for things you don't think about but they do from experience. Needed extra lifting help, locked doors, an extra onboard paramedic on site if they get there and need two persons going to the hospital working with the patient in cases like CPR. In general it's a good policy that helps save lives. Many Fireman are medically cross trained.
With respect, that confirms the answer is more ambulances and fewer fire trucks, especially when the truck is more expensive to maintain and operate and carries 6 persons when only 2 are attending the patient.
You'd have firefighters holed up in their stations for weeks at a time with nothing going on. Getting them involved in other types of calls keeps them sharper and more alert in my opinion - even though there is undoubtably a lot more expense involved.
The fire trucks will get roughly the same MPG fuel wise as the ambulance due to engine vs weight issues. Some FD’s use a SUV or utility truck for Medical assist calls like my VFD does. The FD in the case of paid FD’s are already on the clock and they can break away to a fire call if needed. Thus no added cost in employees. LIke I posted the VFD’s in my state respond to many ambulance calls. Most ambulances do not carry forced entry equipment. Also usually only emergency calls result in FD dispatch and some non emergency if Dispatch believes or the crew believes conditions or situation warrants. It’s better to have a full crew and be able to get say a heart attack patient out and on the way than wait for a second assist to arrive.
Agreed. It’s good training and makes for a good use of their non fire fighting time. The expense though vs hiring extra paramedics and vehicles I would say using the FD is likely cheaper and a better use of resources long term. Diesels will go on forever. Or rather more miles than they will ever see even in double duty use.
If the FD is rural and not around a big city like San Diego or Atlanta for instance they may have extra time on their hands but all Firefighters are required to maintain equipment, have training, continued education along with house duties.
I remember why they dispatched the VFD now. My moms house has a wooden bridge suitable for car and light pick up traffic but not for the weight of an ambulance. Thus the paramedics had to roll her about 300 ft to the ambulance. Six VFD’s showed up from the station in one utility vehicle and they were the first ones there.
Cost effective? This is government we’re talking about.
There’s nothing like extra manpower you need it especially when they get no or little pay for the job as Volunteer Firefighters. You have to admire their dedication.
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