Ambulance Response Times Meet Standards

Ambulance response times in town last year met public safety standards, according to an Orange County Fire Authority report.

Councilman Barry L. Denes, who with Councilman Bob Bell met with fire officials, said the findings show there is no problem with local response times.

Last year, the authority logged 138 medical aid responses in Villa Park. Of those calls, 115 resulted in patients being transported to the hospital; in 13 cases, the patient was taken by a private vehicle, not an ambulance.

Ambulances are asked to respond to emergency calls involving life-threatening problems within 10 minutes, 90% of the time. On urgent calls, the standard is 15 minutes or less, 90% of the time.

The report showed that of the 10 emergency calls, American Medical Response, the city’s contract ambulance provider, met the 10-minute requirement on eight calls. Of the 89 urgent calls, the 15-minute standard was met 73 times.

Denes said he is pleased with the service: “I think we’re in good hands.”