NBC Washington
WASHINGTON — After months of understaffed firehouses and ambulances, nine new paramedics will join D.C. Fire and EMS Thursday.
The “single-role” paramedics are the first of their kind to join the department in nearly a decade, according to a news release from the District. They would be solely responsible for providing medical care in emergency situations, instead of juggling the role of a paramedic with that of a firefighter.
The fire department says one out of every five calls in the District requires a paramedic. Paramedics are able to provide advanced life support, or ALS, such as administering life-saving drugs, using complex defribillators and intubating patients.
Full story: New Paramedics to Join D.C. Fire Department