WTSP
Bartow, Fla. — You’ve probably seen police riding those rugged mountain bikes before. But in Polk County, the Fire Rescue department has a program where they now have 10 EMT’s ready to ride, and are rapidly expanding what was a test program.
The reason? The bikes are able to maneuver into areas where ambulances cannot. Sometimes it saves a few minutes. Perhaps even a few seconds. But that can be the difference between life and death.
It didn’t take long for Polk Fire Rescue to declare its bike program a success. At a recent event, they got through the crowd and to a heart attack victim before the 911 caller could even hang up. “Kind of pays for itself right there,” said Mike Lunsford who heads the bike program.
Full story: New EMT Bike Patrol gains traction in Polk County