"Every second counts in a medical emergency. Reducing ALS coverage in Baltimore means fewer units equipped with the tools and training to handle life-threatening incidents like cardiac arrest, stroke, and major trauma. This change puts patients at greater risk."
That's what IAFF Local 734 President Matthew Coster says about the city's plan to downgrade four ALS units to BLS only.
"This is not about finger-pointing. We believe the fire chief and department leadership are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances. But we owe it to our residents to speak up when decisions are made that could delay care or jeopardize outcomes." he told WJZ.
He added: "When we're already at strained resources and maxed out on a daily basis, we don't want to go backward. We want to keep moving forward and get ALS units on the street where they need to be."
