By Amy Nixon
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
BIG BEND-VERNON, Wis. — Big Bend-Vernon Fire Chief Phil Buchholtz is urging the Vernon Town Board to continue to support the emergency medical services program, which he said allows the department to maintain the highest level of emergency medical care.
Buchholtz wrote an e-mail to BBV Fire Board President Carol Shea and the Vernon and Big Bend boards stating that he had learned that information was spreading to community business owners that the village and town wanted to eliminate the department’s paramedic program. Buchholtz said he was unsure how the information spread or how it was interpreted.
A June 29 letter addressed to the citizens of the community from members of the BBV Fire and Rescue Association asks for community support.
“Due to tough economic times, our ability to maintain the highest level of emergency medical care may be in jeopardy due to budgetary restraints,” stated the letter.
The paramedic program began in 2003 and currently, the BBVFD is one of only nine fire departments in Waukesha County providing paramedic-level EMS service out of the 31 total departments. The department currently staffs 11 paramedics and intends to send seven personnel to paramedic school this fall, according to the letter.
“On Aug. 17, the BBV Fire Board has scheduled a meeting to review the 2010 Fire Department budget,” states the letter. “This budget will be highly scrutinized as a result of our poor economic situation. Funding for the department’s paramedic program is included in the budget and may become one area subject to budget cuts.”
The department responded to more than 290 medical incidents in 2008, of which about 150 required paramedic care, the letter states.
“It’s the official view of the Fire Department that we are not pointing fingers at political figures for trying to get rid of EMS,” Buchholtz told the Town Board.
He said that the department’s service to the community is anywhere from 70 to 80 percent EMS. EMS revenues bring in $100,000 to $170,000 annually, he said.
“We understand that EMS is the highest part of the budget, because it’s the most of what we do,” said Buchholtz.
“We feel it would be a great injustice to lose the ability to provide the highest level of emergency medical care to you, the citizens of Big Bend and Vernon,” stated the letter.
To learn more about the budget process or to see a demonstration on how the EMS program works, attend the Aug. 17 Fire Board meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Fire Station 3, W233 S7475 Woodland Lane.
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