Clearwater Fire Rescue tests new peak unit to cut down response times

Clearwater Fire Rescue is taking some extra steps and using some extra wheels to save lives and keep residents safe.

• Clearwater Fire Rescue tests new peak unit to cut down response times 
• Roaming units to help crews responsed quickly to medical calls

In a 911 emergency, every minute matters. So, the department is trying out a new peak unit aimed at cutting down on emergency response times.  

Clearwater Fire Rescue just wrapped up a four week pilot project that was launched in response to a massive increase in medical calls.

With roaming units, firefighter paramedics are already out on the roads so they can respond to medical calls in a matter of minutes and even seconds.

“When a call comes in these crews are already in the vehicles ready to go so they’re constantly monitoring the dispatch system,” EMS Chief Anthony Tedesco said.

Using the roaming units also frees up the larger trucks to respond to other emergencies like fires or car crashes.

Chief Tedesco said around 85 percent of their calls are medical in nature and since the peak units have been put in place they’ve been responding to upwards of 19 each shift.

“The response time to somebody’s cry for help will be that much quicker and that’s vital in terms of shortening times for defibrillation or CPR for patients who may be in cardiac arrest,” Tedesco said.

Clearwater Fire Rescue will soon start another pilot project for the peak units in a different part of the city.

They hope to have them permanently in place by October.