First responder staffing a concern heading into heat emergency

BOSTON — As the city of Boston enters a heat emergency Thursday, many are trying to figure out how to stay cool.

“Well I have AC, so I’m really lucky, but I think I’m going to go to the beach this weekend and kind of beat the heat with the sea breeze,” said Mia Bacon.

Caitlin Drew says her children’s preschool already warned parents about the dangers of the upcoming extreme heat in the city, so she’s a bit nervous about temperatures soaring into the 90′s for both her kids’ safety and her bills.

“I’m nervous about my electric bill because I’ve been running the AC window unit like nonstop,” said Drew.

Another concern is heat-related emergencies.

The mayor’s office says during last summer’s heat wave Boston EMS had a 15% to 20% rise in daily 911 calls.

While first responders gear up for a busy couple days, Boston EMS has also struggled with staffing shortages recently.

The department is actively hiring for EMT positions right now.

A Boston EMS spokesperson says they still always try to have ambulances fully staffed for all shifts, but sometimes a worker may call out.

The spokesperson went on to say:

“Shutting down a frontline ambulance is a last resort. If it does happen, Boston EMS works to fill the next shift early, reducing the time the unit is out of service. Additionally, the service adapts ambulance deployment to ensure coverage for all sections of the city.”

Boston EMS hopes everyone will take safety precautions to avoid a heat emergency, like staying hydrated or taking advantage of the 15 cooling centers set up across the city Thursday and Friday from 9AM until 5PM.

Splash pads and pools are another good option these next couple days in Boston.

“We really take advantage of the fact that most of the playgrounds in the Boston area have sprinklers and so they can play and cool down,” said Drew.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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