Pam Zekman from CBS Chicago recently did a compelling report on the current state of the Chicago Fire Department's ambulance fleet and EMS response times:

When someone is facing a life-threatening situation, can they rely on the city to send an ambulance in time? According to a joint investigation by CBS 2 and the Better Government Association, the answer might be no. Paramedics say the city needs more ambulances and more trained personnel to handle emergencies effectively.

Take the case of Lynn Ramos, who was hit by a 2-ton postal truck while crossing Washington Street in the Loop last month. Fire engines with paramedics arrived within four minutes to help free her from under the truck. However, in recorded calls, one of them questioned why an ambulance hadn't shown up yet. The closest ambulances were not available, and the one that came was five miles away, taking 16 minutes—10 minutes over the state’s recommended time. Ramos suffered a punctured lung, a broken leg, a fractured pelvis, and multiple rib fractures.

Paramedic Field Chief Patrick Fitzmaurice said the delay should never have happened. “We don’t have enough ambulances,” he stated. The city claims it meets state standards by sending a fire engine with a paramedic and advanced life support equipment within six minutes. But according to another anonymous paramedic, it can take an additional 10 to 15 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. “Those minutes are critical,” he said, especially for patients with serious conditions like strokes or gunshot wounds.

An audit by the city’s inspector general revealed that medical response times fell short of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The NFPA requires advanced life support to reach emergency scenes within five minutes 90% of the time, but the city only met this goal 58% of the time. Inspector General Joseph Ferguson criticized the fire department’s performance, stating, “It appears that critical services are being delivered at a much lower level than claimed.”

The report also pointed out inconsistencies in how the fire department measured its own performance. “No one has any idea truly how well it is performing a core mission,” the report said. Andy Shaw of the Better Government Association warned, “People’s lives will be at risk if they don’t get the right ambulances and trained personnel quickly enough.”

Dispatchers and paramedics say the pressure is constant. “There are times they just get on the radio and say, ‘I have no ambulances. Can anyone go?’” said Fitzmaurice. In response, Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago denied there is an ambulance shortage. “The Fire Department takes its calls for medical assistance very seriously and does not have a shortage of ambulances,” he said. He added that the department plans to hire more paramedics this year, after a temporary delay due to updated testing requirements.

“We are fully staffed every day with a mix of paramedics working straight time and overtime, the majority of which is voluntary,” Santiago said. The department is also looking to improve ambulance efficiency and may reposition some units to better meet demand.

This story, as reported by Bill Post, highlights a growing concern. “This issue has been known for a while, but ALS engines have been arriving faster, which is why the ALS Fire Company program exists. It’s rare for a CFD employee to go on camera, but one supervisor did. Another chose to remain anonymous.”

Thanks to Dan and Bill for sharing their insights.

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