© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Council Calls For Quicker Ambulance Response

Kansas City Fire Department

With a resolution passed yesterday, Kansas City's city council is getting more involved in fixing lagging ambulance response times. And  there's more involvement to come.

 

The council sent the city manager a resolution calling for him to take steps to shave off the half-minute or more added to response times by a new screening procedure for 9-1-1 calls.

But councilman John Sharp said it doesn't mean the council will be micro-managing.

We aren't saying, 'Do it this way,' or 'Do it that way. We aren't saying, 'Go back to the old way of dispatching.' We are simply saying, 'Let;s decrease the time it takes to dispatch an ambulance,'” he said.

The council is asking the city manager to work with the fire department and a new emergency services coordinating committee to work out a solution.

Details on that coordinating committee will be discussed by the Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee Monday morning.

KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.