High Cost of ALS and BLS

Bracken, L. (2013). Student Solutions Manual for Bracken/Miller's Intermediate

Algebra. Independence, IN: Cengage Learning.

Typically, what is the cost for a 4.5-mile ride in an ambulance when advanced life support services are being provided? The going rate in 2013 for advanced life support services is $830 and mileage is $6.00 per mile; that adds up to $860

Burton, L. (2014). Why the big fire engines for minor calls? Seattle Post-

Intelligencer. Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://blog.seattlepi.com.

The head of the Seattle Fire Department, Lieutenant Harold Web, was asked why big expensive fire trucks need to be sent to minor calls, he responded: "Dispatchers send the closest available units to that location." This article doesn't address the economics of the situation, but clearly firefighters get called, and they go.

Davenport, Iowa. (2012). Fire Department Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com.

This article mirrors what the previous reference reported about why big rig fire vehicles rush to the scene when an ambulance was called. "Firefighters can and do get there first," and because firefighters are cross-trained in EMS, they can provide

emergency services until the ambulance and the ALS professionals arrive.

Ioana, M.A., Ramona, C., Bianca, R., and Loan, F. (2013). Impact of Economic

Crisis on Public Services of Social Value in Romania. Annals of the University of Oradea. 22(1), 491-498.

This peer-reviewed article addresses the crisis in Romania during the 2008

recession. Notwithstanding the shortage of funds available to the government during that stressful time, basic emergency services must still be provided.

Koff, S. (1982). What Price Life. Cincinnati Magazine. 16(1). ISSN 0746-8210

This article includes a debate within the City Council of Cincinnati regarding the high costs accompanying ALS and BLS services. "We are responding to a lot more headaches and stomach aches and things we shouldn't be responding to," said assistant fire chief Eversole (Koff, 76).

Kurola, J., Wangel, M., Uusaro, A., and Ruokonen, E. (2002). Paramedic helicopter

Emergency service in rural Finland -- do benefits justify the cost? Acta

Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. Volume 46, 779-784.

In Finland, like many other countries, the costs of providing ALS and BLS

services is becoming astronomically high. This piece illustrates the cost issues in Finland, and in most cases, a helicopter was sent but only BLS care was needed.

Neyfakh, L. (2013). Plenty of firefighters, but where are the fires? Boston Globe.

Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://www.bostonglobe.com.

Of the 30 million calls U.S. firefighters took in 2011, just 1.4 million were for fires.

Perkins, G.D., Kimani, P.K., Bullock, I., Clutton-Brock, T., Davies, R.P., Gale, M., Lam,

J., Lockey, A., and Stallard, N. (2012). Improving the Efficiency of Advanced

Life Support Training. Annals of Internal Medicine, 157(1), 19-20.

The cost of providing ALS and BLS services for communities may be rising, but using e-learning technologies reduces the cost for training reduces. Could those savings be passed training along to the communities and hence to the injured?