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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 03-25 Police paramedic unit reaps benefits for city THE REVIEW god, Minnesota Single Copy 30` WED., MARCH 25, 1981 Police paramedic Unit reapsbenefits for city By MARY LEE HAGERT Cusick and nine other officers have patrolmen.We believe that in many ways received five months of paramedic the paramedics earn the extra pay.Since (first in a two-part series) training from a team of doctors at St. the program began, we have worked out Paul-Ramsey Medical Center. or around the interdepartmental I Each week the Maplewood police Since the program began, three problems," he states. paramedics receive thank g y you letters paramedic police officers have quit the He adds that when medical emer enc from the persons who receive their ser- program. One returned to regular patrol calls are received, all the police officers I vices and their families. set aside their personal feelings about the duties.The other two accepted jobs in the and are dedicated to providing a Maplewood woman wrote, private sector. program p g I "I want to tell you how grateful I am for the best medical services possible. your wonderful, prompt service . . . " "OUR PEOPLE WERE originally Another resident writes, "I thank you hired on as police officers and primarily "ONE OF THE SECRETS of our suc- with all my heart for your prompt want to be police officers.They want to a cess has been the complete commitment response to my call on Oct. 19. Words limited extent to be paramedics,"Cusick and cooperation we have received from can't express our gratefulness to you.I'm explains. the fire department. The fire fighters go sure you saved my husband's life." For this reason, there are two to an emergency call with the idea that Last year, the Maplewood police paramedics assigned to every shift during they are going to save each person. It is a paramedics responded to 1,047 the day. The two paramedics patrol the true cooperative venture,"Schaller says. emergency calls. During that time span, streets of Maplewood in a specially All of Maplewood's volunteer fire they revived five persons who were equipped vehicle. When they receive a fighters also have first aid training.About "clinically dead" when the paramedic medical emergency call, they respond to half the fire fighters are also trained as unit arrived. Today all five of those it. emergency medical technicians. They persons are alive.Since the program was The paramedic program has caused assist the paramedics at the emergency first established,it has responded to 5,963 some tension between the patrolmen on scene and transport the patients by emergency calls. the Maplewood police force. Some ambulance to the hospitals. The Maplewood police paramedic policemen have occasionally complained In 1980, the city allocated $255,000 to program is unique.When it was started in that the paramedics receive preferential fund the police paramedic program.This 1975 it was the first police force in Min- treatment, says Richard Schaller, amount is supplemented by fees charged nesota with trained paramedics. In most Maplewood public safety director. to the patients. communities across the state and nation, "The paramedics work five or six hours Despite the problems that have arisen firemen are the trained paramedics. overtime each month. This time is for regarding the police paramedics, additional monthly training which they Schaller, Cusick and Al Schadt, "THE CALLS RECEIVED by the must receive. They also receive higher Maplewood fire marshal, all agree they paramedics are varied,"says Lt. Dennis pay because of their paramedic duties," would start the program up again if Cusick. "Many of the calls are from Schaller says. necessary. older persons who fall or are having "From time to time this has caused They also would encourage other trouble breathing. Other calls might be some tensions among the other communities to begin similar programs. from someone who is injured at home,on the job or from an accident. There are 1 w many people saved. The miraculous ones '4' ' ,r are like those brought back to life. Wef iy- believe they are gifts—by-products of the � program. ../ 4 '-';''', '1411h, "I feel like a lot of dedicated effort is , made by the paramedics and fire fighters to do everything medically possible to Keep a person alive until they reach the e ,,,,,,., ? . , , hospital," Cusick states. "We think Maplewood has one of the . - 1.1.a. = best, if not the best paramedic program •- , ,:� ��,' available for a city of this size." Police officers serving the dual role as f __ lu paramedics adds an extra element of ,, .'",q, strain on their jobs.Statistics have shown .4, , that the"burnout"rate for paramedics is o " even higher than that of patrolmen. 7' dr '. : , Paramedics also frequently have a high I. rate of alcoholism. ..•r The paramedics deal with life and death t40 _ situations on a daily basis, says Cusick, i , who coordinates the Maplewood program ;.> and is a trained paramedic.While this is a very difficult job, it can also be very rewarding, he adds. , "We have helped thousands of people since the program began. The letters we x have received from the patients and their ^ families thanking the paramedics and r � I firemen for their fine emergency services 3 help to make it all worthwhile," Cusik _ explains. WHILE THE PARAMEDICS are ' 1 helping the citizens,the Maplewood police -„.. ,. 4,'m 4; " are finding that the program also benefits } �# ,,, the department in a public relations • ` sense. -- 3, "It allows the people to see us in a different light," Cusick says. "They see !''''''-t%' ' , ..,. the officer not as enforcing the law,but as `"" " � .,y� �.� .,_ � ,� 6c � y ya Ott, helping people. It erases a stigma that DEMONSTRATING THEIR lifesaving techniques for persons with cardiac arrest 'the police don't serve' because they do are Officer Carol M.Nelson,left;Mike Larson,1809 English St.,a volunteer member serve." of the Gladstone Fire Department,and Officer Roger Lee,right.