Hillsborough County Fire to introduce new rescue strategy
Original reporting by Aiden Poff
The Peak Rescue Division — a system of roving ambulances — is the newest upcoming addition to the Hillsborough County Fire Department.
“Roving ambulances” don’t have a home-base, meaning roving paramedics are able to respond to emergencies on average 42 seconds faster than normal response times.
Public Safety Information Chief Rob Herrin explains exactly how significant that can be in a fire.
“There’s statistics that go along with time and fires… and time with patients having strokes to patients in cardiac arrest. The longer they’re not getting blood to their brain and… without CPR being done…the worse their outcome could be,” Herrin said. “So that 42 seconds might not sound like much. But hold your breath for 42 seconds and tell me after that… would you want somebody to start helping you?”
Additionally, these 42 seconds also can provide psychological comfort. Hillsborough occupational therapist Paul Scaglione says that it’s comforting to know response times are decreasing.
““I work in home health. And people start to go bad, and they sometimes are getting worse quickly. 42 seconds makes a difference — you know? So, I’m really glad. It lets me know that they’re closer when they get the call,” Scaglione said.
The division will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week, even during holidays.
The program hopes to start operations in the spring.
New boating restrictions could help save thousands
Original reporting by Eric Charpentier
Sarasota County is considering new boating restrictions at South Lido Beach after a rise in accidents and public concerns over swimmer safety and seagrass damage. Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Nicole Rissler shared the possible plans.
“Staff brought two options to the board of county commissioners to consider; one was an exclusionary zone which means no motorboat craft in that 300-foot space. The other option that was given to the board to consider is that the 300 feet would be an idle speed zone,” Rissler said.
Beyond safety – restrictions could help prevent seagrass beds from getting shredded and soften currents. Sherriff Marine Specialist Sam Lutz says he tries to educate boaters about safety on the water.
“They’re out there operating boats and a lot of times we see them doing things that they shouldn’t be doing and when we come in contact with them and start talking with them we realize pretty quickly that it’s a lack of experience and it gives us an opportunity to interact with them, talk to them and teach them what needs to happen,” Lutz said.
A public hearing is set for late January with the possible laws going into effect as early as March.
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