Program aims to keep firefighters actually fighting fires
»Play Video
KENT, Wash. -- Firemen are trained to fight fires and save lives but the majority calls to 911 are not for fires and rescues any more, they're for medical emergencies and assistance.
Sometimes calls come from the same address and the same person, like Delilah Sinclair.
"I thought, my God, they are going to put me in prison because I called so much time," she said.
She's confined to a wheelchair and a scooter and her medical condition gives her trouble unlocking her front door and getting in and out of the house. After three 911 calls for help, firefighters recognized her problem could easily be solved -- an automatic door opener.
Enter Tami Kapule.
"And I can come out and provide those pieces of equipment absolutely free of charge," Kapule said.
Firefighters by their very nature are kind compassionate individuals and it can get to be very frustrating for them to go to the same situation time and time again. Enter the FDCARES program. FDCARES is actually an acronym for Fire Department Community Assistance Referral and Education Services.
With donated funds and equipment, Kapule follows up when a firefighter sees something that can prevent repeated non-emergency 911 calls -- like a automatic door opener for Sinclair.
"If we can install equipment into their home to prevent those incidents from taking place, that's the kind of equipment we are talking about," said Battalion Chief Mitch Snyder with the Kent Fire Department.
For Faye Driessen, it was installing a metal bar on her bed to help her get up from a fall.
"And I'm down on the ground and then we have to call the wonderful Kent Fire Department to come pick me up," she said.
Medial insurance rarely pays for preventive measures like door openers and metal bars, so firefighters are solving the problem themselves so taxpayers get what they paid for: firefighters fighting fires.
"Hopefully it leads them to have a more independent lifestyle and it reduces the demand on the 911 system," Kapule said.
Currently the Kent, South King County Fire & Rescue, SeaTac and Olympia fire departments participate in the FDCares program. The recipients pay for nothing.
Sometimes calls come from the same address and the same person, like Delilah Sinclair.
"I thought, my God, they are going to put me in prison because I called so much time," she said.
She's confined to a wheelchair and a scooter and her medical condition gives her trouble unlocking her front door and getting in and out of the house. After three 911 calls for help, firefighters recognized her problem could easily be solved -- an automatic door opener.
Enter Tami Kapule.
"And I can come out and provide those pieces of equipment absolutely free of charge," Kapule said.
Firefighters by their very nature are kind compassionate individuals and it can get to be very frustrating for them to go to the same situation time and time again. Enter the FDCARES program. FDCARES is actually an acronym for Fire Department Community Assistance Referral and Education Services.
With donated funds and equipment, Kapule follows up when a firefighter sees something that can prevent repeated non-emergency 911 calls -- like a automatic door opener for Sinclair.
"If we can install equipment into their home to prevent those incidents from taking place, that's the kind of equipment we are talking about," said Battalion Chief Mitch Snyder with the Kent Fire Department.
For Faye Driessen, it was installing a metal bar on her bed to help her get up from a fall.
"And I'm down on the ground and then we have to call the wonderful Kent Fire Department to come pick me up," she said.
Medial insurance rarely pays for preventive measures like door openers and metal bars, so firefighters are solving the problem themselves so taxpayers get what they paid for: firefighters fighting fires.
"Hopefully it leads them to have a more independent lifestyle and it reduces the demand on the 911 system," Kapule said.
Currently the Kent, South King County Fire & Rescue, SeaTac and Olympia fire departments participate in the FDCares program. The recipients pay for nothing.
Don't we have assisted living homes for this type of person?
 @k00lguy:Â
"Homes" of any sort, end up costing way more than people staying in their own homes with some measure of independence.
 @K00lGuy We will all hope that you are never in a condition or situation where you need someones help.
Â
About ten years ago I had a severe kidney stone attack. I had no one close by so I called 911. The Bothell Fire Department EMTs arrived in just a few minutes and because of my age and physical condition they were concerned I was having a heart attack. They called Bothell FD paramedics who arrived maybe two minutes later and ran the EKG on me. No heart problems and the EMTs transported me to Stevens Hospital where I was admitted. It may not have been a life-or-death situation but I was extremely grateful.
Â
The month following this experience Bothell had to institute a charge when they transported. Then a court decision shot down the added tax on utility bills used to pay for the EMT/Paramedic program. Residents were given a choice as to a refund of about $350 or to donate their refund to the cause. You bet your sweet bippy I donated my refund.
 @Furd  @K00lGuy FYI - the transport charge is billed to your insurance or Medicare and I believe the City of Bothell accepts whatever amount is paid and even waives it if you have no insurance. I have also had nothing but good experiences with the Bothell Fire Department.Â
Â
 @VikingMom  @K00lGuy That is correct as far as I know. Luckily I have not had to avail myself of their fine service other than that one time.
 @K00lGuy They can be costly to their loved ones. If they do not have family or the family cannot afford it, it leaves them on their own. It is good for them to have accommodations that allow them to be more independent in their every day lives.