« Venice Beach Summer Sports Day | Main | Venice Beach Summer Sports Day »

LAFD Bicycle Medics at Venice Beach ⛑

Los Angeles Fire Department Bicycle Medics patrol along the Venice Beach Boardwalk, Saturday, August 21, 2021. The Bicycle Medics treated an injured volleyball player. The Los Angeles Fire Department has developed an elite Bicycle Medic Program. Cost effectiveness and mobility allow LAFD Bicycle Medic Teams to bridge the gap between foot patrol and rescue ambulances, which can be the difference between life and death in congested or crowded conditions. The primary purpose of the LAFD Bicycle Medic Team is to provide a rapid response of two fire department members functioning as a paramedic assessment unit. These bicycle units give mobility to the EMS provider. The EMS personnel can negotiate congested areas during special events, in amusement parks, and at sports arenas. Examples where the Bike Teams have proven their worth are events such as the Los Angeles Marathon, Fiesta Broadway, Rose Bowl, Rose Parade, Van Nuys Air Show, and other large concerts and sporting events. The Bike Teams administer emergency medical care in areas of large crowd volume where access by fire department apparatus may be delayed or impossible. The access problems associated with these events lead to longer response times for Paramedics and Firefighters. Bicycle Medic Teams also serve as a public relations tool through elevated personal public interaction. Agencies that currently have these programs report that citizens are more likely to interact with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel on bikes than those in ambulances. This accessibility fosters better community interaction, understanding, and support of the Department’s programs. 

Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 07:29AM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz | CommentsPost a Comment

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.