Rescue Division
Committed To Saving Lives and Property
The Emergency Medical Services Division of St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue is under the direct supervision of EMS Chief William Ward. The Division is staffed by eighty-three Firefighter/Paramedics, six Paramedic Lieutenants, a Public Education Technician, a Paramedic Captain, an Office Systems Specialist, and the Division Chief. The shift personnel are divided into three shifts. The three shifts rotate with a schedule of twenty-four hours on duty and forty-eight hours off duty. Each shift staffs thirteen Advanced Life Support (ALS) units, ten of which are transport capable; additionally, thirteen paramedics work with S.P.P.D. as members of the SWAT team and protect 68 square miles and a population of 250,000. The ALS units are able to perform Advanced Life Support procedures under the direction of the Pinellas County Medical Director. The Medical Director in cooperation with the Pinellas County Medical Control board approves medical protocols. St. Petersburg College currently provides continuing medical education for all department Paramedics and EMTs in both lecture and internet based curricula.
- In 2006, there were 39,000 requests for medical assistance
- The average response time for medical assistance is 4.31 minutes
- ALS units responded to 182 cardiac arrests in 2006
- The EMS Division Budget for 2006-07 is $10.5 million
- ALS units carry state-of-the art equipment
- The EMS Division has assisted business owners´ in placing over 120 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in various locations throughout the city
- In 2006, CPR Instructors taught 157 classes with 1,830 students
- In 2007, the department registered 366 “Special Needs” citizens requiring evacuation assistance in the event of a natural or manmade disaster
