Ep 32. NAEMT Radio – Lights and Sirens Reduction

Mecklenburg EMS Agency NC (MEDIC) achieves a 70% reduction in the use of lights and sirens during responses and a 78% decrease in Medic-involved traffic incidents

We are now aware of the academic research and trials underway to reduce the use of lights and sirens during emergency response and transport.  In this edition of NAEMT Radio, EMS Lawyer, Steve Wirth Esq and John ‘JP’ Peterson, Executive Director of The Mecklenburg EMS Agency, also known as MEDIC, join host Rob Lawrence to discuss the reasons, risks, liability, benefits, and outcomes of L&S reduction.

Steve Wirth highlights the benefits for and risks against adopting a policy of appropriate L&S use and JP Peterson discusses Medics award winning and pioneering Response Configuration program. This initiative, launched in April 2023, strategically enhanced Medic's response protocols to emergency calls, leading to significant operational improvements. Notably, within six months, comprehensive data analysis highlighted that the new configuration had no negative effects on patient outcomes, optimized resource allocation, and led to a substantial 70% reduction in the use of lights and sirens during responses. Additionally, it achieved a 78% decrease in Medic-involved traffic incidents, significantly enhancing safety for both the community and emergency responders. These impressive outcomes not only demonstrate Medic's innovative approach to EMS but also underscore its unwavering commitment to improving patient care, safety, and efficiency within the greater Charlotte area.

Resources

Presentation to the County Board of Commissioners on L&S Reduction https://mecklenburg.ravnur.com/media/PAx21k

Medic pleased with how reduced 'light and sirens' response configuration is working: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/medic-response-changes/275-72af3aad-acb9-4ce4-ad07-6032076d250d

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About our Guests

J.P. Peterson is the Executive Director at Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. MEDIC is the busiest EMS service in the state with over 156,000 responses in 2021. Prior to working at MEDIC, J.P. served as Vice President of Florida Operations for PatientCare EMS Solutions. In this role, he had oversight of MedFleet Ambulance Service based in Pasco County, Florida and Sunstar Paramedics in Pinellas County, Florida where he was also the Chief Operating Officer. He is the Immediate Past President of the Florida Ambulance Association and is also a member of the American Ambulance Association bylaws, professional standards, and ethics committees.

Steve Wirth is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth. In a distinguished four-decade public safety career, Steve has worked in virtually every facet of EMS – as first responder, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, flight paramedic, EMS instructor, fire officer, and EMS executive. He was one of central Pennsylvania’s first paramedics. Steve brings a pragmatic and business-oriented perspective to his diverse legal practice having served for almost a decade as senior executive of a mid-sized air and ground ambulance service, helping to build the company from the ground up.