SAN FRANCISCO — Ambulance response times in San Francisco have spiked over the past four months leaving first responders in a challenging position and possibly putting patients’ lives at risk, according to firefighters who spoke to 2 Investigates.
According to a June audit of the San Francisco Fire Department, performed by the city’s Budget and Legislative Analyst, the city’s population growth over the last 13 years has contributed to an increase in 911 calls. San Francisco’s population has grown by nearly 8 percent - from 776,733 residents in 2000 to 837,442 in 2013, according to the report.
An increase in San Francisco’s homeless population is also cited as “one of the reasons for the increased demand in emergency medical services.”
Read full story: 2 Investigates: San Francisco paramedic response times put patients at risk