Regarding Attleboro's proposed ordinance to require that new firefighters be certified paramedics, I would like to commend Councilman William Bowles for having the courage to bring this forward. His long overdue ordinance will go a long way in providing and ensuring the citizens of Attleboro and visitors receive the highest level of emergency care available at all times.

Paramedics arrived on the scene in the Attleboro area some 23 years ago. It's been a battle all along to hire paramedics under the existing rules and attitudes. You have those from within that have siblings to those that are politically connected to simply city residents and those that are veterans looking for that coveted job.

I was one of the first paramedics back in 1987 and I've always tried to persuade or encourage the powers-that-be to hire medics. I've never had anything against anyone getting the job. I've always suggested to anyone who was thinking about getting on the job to get into a paramedic class first. This would make them more valuable and stand out among the rest of the candidates.

Raising the minimum level of training to require paramedic certification first is a no-brainer, especially with 50 to 70 percent of all calls for fire department assistance being medical in nature. The job of firefighter has changed to firefighter/paramedic, therefore the hiring practices should change also.

In the near future I would hope that every time an ambulance arrives at your medical emergency you no longer have to wonder, are they paramedics or simply basic EMTs. If you think you're receiving that now, think again, you're probably not! If you're not being treated by a paramedic, then you're not getting the care that you may need and require. Paramedic care has changed over the years and has become more sophisticated and challenging, not to mention demanding. Today's medics treat asthmatics with nebulized breathing treatments and monitor their condition with CO2 measurements. Cardiac patients can be monitored, defibrillated, cardioverted, or paced as needed, not to mention the many medications required for this process. Diabetics can be treated with life-saving glucose given by intravenous IV lines or IM glucogon. Drug overdoses that are so common today can be and must be treated promptly with the appropriate medication. This short list is only a small sample of their capabilities, but what is more significant is the knowledge base that it takes to recognize and treat these and many other life-threatening conditions successfully.

Supporting this ordinance will go a long way toward defeating the proponents of nepotism and the good old boys network. Just because you may have helped get someone elected does not make you qualified for such a technical job.

Let's raise the bar and hire only paramedics from here on out.

I'll say that if you happened to help someone get elected or you have a politician in your pocket or you're a sibling of a firefighter and you are a paramedic, then great, get in line. If not, step aside!

It is my hope that every citizen and councilor gets behind this proposal for the well-being and safety of all.

JOSEPH PARENT is a retired Attleboro firefighter.