DETROIT – The City of Detroit is getting new equipment to help improve EMS response times in the city.
It has a crop of new ambulances ready to hit the streets.
Joesph Stevens III has been on the job as a first responder for less than a year.
“Honestly, since I was young it was my dream to help people and it doesn’t feel like I’m at work when I’m helping people,” Stevens said.
He’s out saving lives in a brand-new ambulance.
“It makes it easier and it makes it more time efficient, getting new equipment learning how to use it, we get better every day,” Stevens said.
This week, the City of Detroit added half a dozen rigs to their fleet.
“Right now, we’re averaging anywhere from 42-44 ambulances a day, on the street which is the most in history,” said Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms.
New equipment helps with emergency response times. Detroit is already below the national average at 7 minutes and 33 seconds wait times could top 20 minutes.
“I lived those days, I was in those times where we had broken down apparatus so I want to make sure this department never sees that again,” Simms said.
Since the bankruptcy, Simms said the city has made it a point to make first responders a priority.
“We have the best firefighters paramedics and EMTS in the world,” Simms said. “We want them to feel good that we’re taking care of them and getting the proper equipment.”