Denver Fire data shows how long firefighters waited for paramedics

Denver firefighters waited greater than 10 minutes at a scene for Denver Well being paramedics almost 8,000 occasions in 2021 and waited greater than 5 minutes on roughly 16% of medical calls final 12 months, based on information obtained by Denver7 Investigates.

Along with the information, Denver7 Investigates additionally combed via a number of days value of radio communications and emails, and located a number of situations of Denver firefighters expressing frustration {that a} Denver Well being ambulance was delayed or not but dispatched as a result of none have been obtainable to answer an emergency name.

One correspondence famous a 25-minute response time.

“There’s been an absence of accountability,” mentioned one firefighter, who spoke to Denver7 Investigates in silhouette with a disguised voice to guard his job. The firefighter mentioned ready for Denver Well being ambulances was a daily incidence.

Kevin Apuron, a former Denver firefighter, mentioned that if an ambulance was delayed or didn’t reply to an emergency name, there wasn’t a lot firefighters might do whereas ready.

Denver7 Investigates beforehand reported that Denver firefighters have been prevented from utilizing some superior life-saving strategies whereas on the job. That coverage is now within the course of of fixing.

The database of Denver Fireplace wait occasions is managed by the Denver Fireplace Division and reveals how lengthy firefighters waited on scene for ambulances to reach in 2021.

It confirmed 22,628 calls through which firefighters waited greater than 5 minutes at a scene for a Denver Well being Ambulance to reply. The database included:

• 7,816 calls through which firefighters waited greater than 10 minutes. 
• 1,621 calls through which firefighters waited greater than 20 minutes. 
• 459 calls through which firefighters waited greater than half-hour. 
• 141 calls through which firefighters waited greater than 40 minutes. 

“That’s an issue,” mentioned Denver Metropolis Councilman Kevin Flynn, when seeing the information. “Why can’t we get there?”

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In an announcement, Denver Well being known as the database “deceptive because it doesn’t at all times precisely symbolize the response time for Denver Well being paramedics or the precise time that it took for a Denver Well being ambulance to reach on the scene of a specific name.”

The assertion additionally famous, “Each 911 name represents a novel, particular person circumstance that calls for a specific response based mostly on many components, together with the extent of emergency, if an ambulance is required and when an ambulance is added to a name. For some calls, ambulances aren’t instantly assigned or required.”

Denver Fireplace defended its information and wrote in an announcement, “We firmly assist the accuracy and methodology [of the data].”

In analyzing radio communications, Denver7 Investigates got here throughout a number of calls at 6:42 a.m. on Dec. 1, 2021, with hearth crews asking for updates on ambulances. Per these radio calls, there have been no ambulances obtainable for 3 Denver residents who wanted emergency assist. All three calls have been inside a 4-mile radius.

In an e mail from a firefighter working that day obtained by Denver7 Investigates, the firefighter referenced ready greater than half-hour for an emergency name.

“This appears unacceptable,” the firefighter wrote. “Three different items on calls in several components of town have been ready for ambulances on the identical time.”

One other e mail from a firefighter working later that very same month mentioned they’d talked with an ambulance crew and “they mentioned there have been solely 4 ambulances on the road for the complete metropolis.”

Regardless of saying that it was not honest to attract conclusions from Denver Fireplace’s database, Denver Well being declined to supply its response database and wouldn’t comply with an on-camera interview.

Flynn believes that Denver Well being ought to reply questions on any points with response.

“I believe Denver Well being ought to inform the folks of Denver what’s the issue right here and the way will we remedy it, extra importantly,” he mentioned.

Click on right here to learn Denver Well being’s full assertion.