Q&A: How OKC Fire and emergency crews work together during winter weather

Oklahoma City firefighters and emergency medical service units worked hundreds of incidents on the roads over the past two days rescuing people from crashes and exposure to the bitter cold. News 9 followed OKCFD on Wednesday to see their work in action. 

Q: Does the Oklahoma City Fire Department respond to medical calls? 

A: Yes, medical calls make up a large volume of OKCFD’s call load. The medical field team ensures crews have everything they need. OKCFD also has its supplemental transport service with its ambulances contracted through EMSA.

Q: How do emergency crews respond during severe weather? 

A: As of Wednesday afternoon, OKCFD responded to more cold exposure calls than car crashes. With ice on the sidewalks, this week was a hazard for anyone walking outside. 

“The city does a really good job on clearing roads within the city limits,” said Charles Mueller, medical field operations supervisor for OKCFD. “But the backstreets and the neighborhoods … typically you see a higher volume of vehicle wrecks -- and then you see a higher volume of slips and falls and traumatic injuries.” 

Q: What is the main challenge with severe winter weather for EMS?  

A: “The main challenge with weather events is just responding safely,” Mueller said. "We’re a little bit less aggressive. It delays our call time, but it also ensures that our other citizens stay safe.” 

EMSA chief public affairs officer Adam Paluka said communication is critical to utilize necessary resources at each call. 

“We can stay in pretty much real-time communication with each other,” Paluka said. “It’s all about collaboration -- all of those entities coming together to make sure that you get to the patients.” 

Mueller credited that networking to their response success this week. 

“With great teamwork through all the agencies and divisions, we’ve been able to meet the need,” Mueller said. 

Q: Why do you work in emergency service? 

A: “They say you never work a day in your job if you love it. I fell in love with helping people. You’re there at somebody’s darkest hour,” Mueller said. “Just to be that light in that person’s day and be a resource to help them makes me feel good. I can truly say that I love the fire service.”