Remind me to avoid Columbus, Ohio

When money gets tight, people put their heads up their rear ends...

I just read an article from March 22, 2009 that Columbus, Ohio is considering taking paramedics off their ambulances and reverting to an all-basic (EMT) system.

"A committee charged with finding ways for Columbus to save money has recommended that the city return to a basic emergency medical system. The last time the Columbus Division of Fire provided only basic-level care was in 1968."

These days, there is a clear trend of upgrading ambulances from basic (BLS) to advanced life support (ALS). I'm not sure there are any BLS squads left in the county where I volunteer. All of them upgraded to ALS or disappeared within the last decade.

While they are at it, I think Columbus should replace their fleet of ambulances with hearses. Being built on a car chassis, a hearse probably gets better fuel economy than an ambulance, so the savings would be two-fold!