Fire Station Equipment Upgrades to Speed
Emergency Dispatch, Improve Response Times
Recently completed equipment upgrades at Barrington area fire stations will significantly improve service to residents and businesses by speeding the emergency dispatch of firefighters and paramedics, BCFPD Trustees report.
An in-depth analysis of response times and future staffing requirements, including a review of current dispatch protocols, was recently completed by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association on behalf of the BCFPD. Trustees commissioned the study as part of the District's continuing efforts to monitor and upgrade service to its residents.
The dispatch protocol review found that, by upgrading the in-house alarm system at each station, the Barrington Fire Department could reduce response times by up to 30 seconds in emergency situations.
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Executive Director Robert M. Buhs says this 30-second improvement will significantly enhance the effectiveness of fire and emergency medical service to residents of the District and Village of Barrington.
"Thirty seconds can mean the difference between life and death," Buhs explains. "Statistics demonstrate that structural fires that burn for six minutes or more usually result in complete loss. In medical emergency situations where a patient has stopped breathing, the odds of brain damage increase greatly after just four minutes.
"The bottom line is that response times are a key indicator when measuring the effectiveness of fire and emergency medical services," he adds.
A review of dispatch data after three months will help to verify the upgrades' effectiveness.
The far-reaching analysis commissioned by the BCFPD also identified additional equipment and procedural upgrades that will improve response times to far-eastern segments of the District that are served by a separate regional dispatch system. Fire Department officials expect these upgrades to be completed in April.