The recent death of a baby girl has led Alderman Mark S. Devine to demand that the city restore the legal ability of firefighters to perform advanced life support techniques.
Devine, a retired assistant fire chief, said at Wednesday’s Common Council work session that he wants a vote next week on applying to the state Health Department to restore that license.
The city had advanced life support services from firefighters for many years, until the 2013-14 financial crisis, when the city got out of the ambulance business and laid off more than a dozen firefighters. The Fire Department still sends a truck to most rescue calls, but the firefighters can perform only basic life support.
Fire Chief Patrick K. Brady said the city is seeking state approval to add the use of medications to that basic status. Advanced life support would include more sophisticated medication and medical equipment. Thus, although the state Health Department approved the restoration of basic life support, Lockport fire trucks at present carry no medications, Brady said.
The city contracts with Twin City Ambulance, but fire trucks often arrive before the ambulance.