Recent reports have highlighted growing concerns over emergency medical services (EMS) response times and ambulance availability in Chicago, raising serious questions about public safety and transparency.
CBS Chicago recently uncovered a memo sent to dispatchers by the Office of Emergency Management, which appears to discourage open communication about ambulance shortages. The document instructs dispatchers to avoid using phrases like “we have no ALS ambulances available†when coordinating responses, especially when sending basic life support units or fire engines with paramedics instead of full EMS crews.
The memo suggests that dispatchers should focus on using specific ambulance numbers rather than acknowledging the lack of advanced life support resources. It also admits that “certain times we are inundated with runs and lack of resources,†but it seems the city is more focused on managing the narrative than addressing the underlying issues.
Paramedics and first responders have long raised alarms about the strain on the system. One field chief, Pat Fitzmaurice, stated that the situation is clear: the city needs more ambulances. However, the recent memo signals an attempt to downplay the severity of the problem, which has led to longer wait times for patients in need of urgent care.
CBS 2 has documented several cases where response times exceeded normal standards, including a 16-minute delay for a woman hit by a postal truck, a 22-minute wait for a man with chest pain, and a 26-minute delay for an elderly woman experiencing breathing difficulties. These incidents have drawn criticism from both the public and officials, with one Fire Department spokesperson calling the 26-minute response “unacceptable.â€
Experts argue that the issue goes beyond simply adding more ambulances. The efficiency of the entire EMS system—particularly how dispatchers manage and allocate resources—needs to be evaluated. While other cities of similar size have systems in place to track ambulance locations and assign units effectively, Chicago seems to be struggling with this critical aspect of emergency management.
Some question whether the current approach is sustainable, especially as demand continues to rise. If the system isn’t properly managed, even with more vehicles, the same problems could persist. As the debate over transparency and accountability continues, the real concern remains: are residents getting the care they need, when they need it?
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