The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) recently hosted a seminar in Washington, DC addressing fire service-based EMS issues. It was one of several excellent seminars held in conjunction with the CFSI Dinner event in April 2009. The seminar panel consisted of Lori Moore-Merrell representing the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Chief John Sinclair representing the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Steve Austin representing the Fire Service-Based EMS Advocates coalition and Randy Mantooth, the actor who played Paramedic John Gage on the TV series "Emergency!"

Lori and John each outlined benefits of fire service-based EMS systems and how they integrate with the all-hazards approach to delivering emergency services through a fire department. Steve talked about the Fire Service-Based EMS Advocates, the work the group has done and its goals for the immediate future. Randy discussed the impact that playing the role of Paramedic Gage had on his career and his life. He also said how much he came to respect the men and women who are the real firefighters and paramedics and how honored he was to represent what they mean to the safety of our nation. It's a shame that every member of every fire department in America wasn't there to hear this panel and realize the importance of what they had to say. Fire service-based EMS is a long-standing tradition with a rich history in career, volunteer and combination departments…and the fire service should be very proud of that.

In the late 1960s and into the mid-1980s, fire chiefs, labor officials and other fire service leaders devoted significant time and effort to ensuring that elected officials and other policy makers at the federal, state, county and local levels understood the importance of implementing and nurturing fire service-based EMS systems. However, many of those who were in decision-making positions within all levels of government during that time have moved on, and it's obvious that the fire service has some re-informing to do for the people in those positions today. Some Congressional offices, state legislatures, city councils, fire district boards, and leaders of federal and state agencies are either misinformed or uninformed of the role the fire service plays in pre-hospital 911 emergency medical care and the advantages of basing EMS services in fire departments — and that lack of understanding needs to change. They must realize that contrary to what many believe, EMS is not just an ambulance ride. It is a complex public safety system with many components, the ambulance transportation component being just one of them.