On August 22, 2016, the Sparks City Council authorized the Sparks Fire Department (SFD) to provide paramedic level emergency medical services in the City of Sparks. Due to staffing contraints, the Paramedic Program was designed to be phased in over several years based on the availability of staffing and the equipment needed to provide this level of EMS care.

Station 4 and 5 started opertaing as paramedic engines on April 3, 2017. Station 2 started providing paramedic level EMS on May 7, 2018. Station 3 started it's paramedic service on January 18, 2019. I am anticipating requiring paramedics on Engine 11 at Station 1 starting February 25, 2020.

When the Paramedic Program was first approved, the fire department had 15 paramedics on staff. Today, we have 28 paramedics on staff, 21 are at the firefighter/paramedic level.

Paramedic interventions include advanced airway management, cardiac monitoring, and administration of medications. The utilization of paramedic skills at station 1 should improve patient outcomes by supplying the highest level of pre-hospital care. The cost associated with licensing Engine-11 at Station 1 is estimated at about $2500.00 for consubable supplies and medications. The current EMS budget has sufficient funds available to acquire these items.

The continued implementation of paramedic level EMS at Sparks Fire Department ensures that our residents and visitors are receiving care consistent with that of our neighboring jurisdictions.

1. Council can approve staffing E-11 with paramedics in accordance with the implementation schedule adopted by the Council on August 22, 2016.

2. Council can choose not to approve paramedic staffing on E-11 and provide further direction to the City Manager.

I move to approve the implementation of paramedic level emergency medical service on Engine-11 at Station 1.