Upgrades begin across Merced fire stations with 24-hour paramedics

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's a major milestone for emergency service operations and public safety in Merced.

For the last seven years, the city has been working to upgrade all of its fire stations from basic life support services to advanced care.

This means all five stations will have a paramedic on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The upgrade started on Monday with Fire Station 52 in South Merced.

First responders say about 70 percent of calls handled by the Merced Fire Department involve medical emergencies.

"These paramedics expand our level of EMS care that we can provide to the community by offering advanced airway management techniques," says Merced Fire Chief Mickey Brunelli. "They can administer certain medications to these patients when they are sick and injured. They can also do cardiac monitoring and some other advanced techniques that are beyond the scope of an EMT."

The expansion was supported by a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which provides paramedic training.

The Merced City Council also approved funding for the equipment needed to provide Advanced Life Support services.