Three Tulsa Fire Stations Beef Up Medical Emergency Response

The Tulsa Fire Department announced upgrades to its medical teams in neighborhoods that need it most.

The department said three stations - Engine 21 at 4606 East 31st Street, Ladder 27 at 11707 East 31st Street and Engine 19 at 509 East 56th Place North - will go from having Basic Life Support EMTs on staff, to Advance Life Support paramedics, plus they'll receive more medical equipment.

That means they're trained to treat life-threatening emergencies.

This newly-trained staff will be stationed in areas that typically have fewer fires, but an older population, which means more medical emergencies, like strokes, seizures, and heart attacks.

"It's exciting to work here. It's exciting to bring these paramedics and basic EMTs out to the field," said EMS Director Michael Baker. "And I think that the citizens can be proud of knowing who's responding to their home if they need them."

The EMS director says the changes aren't costing more money, because of grants and years of budget planning.