Boca Raton, Florida: Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services, Advanced Life Support Competition Team A took 1st Place at the 1st Annual Advanced Life Support Competition held in Margate, Florida. The three member team
which consisted of Paramedic Lieutenants Shea Miller, Jeff Lazzeri and Firefighter/Paramedic James Haag were met with a grueling challenge. The team responded to a bus accident where they had to triage, treat and coordinate transportation for 21 patients with a variety of medical and traumatic emergencies. There were 11 teams that competed from South Florida and one international team from the Mexican Red Cross. In
May Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services will be hosting the 6th Annual Boca Raton EMS Challenge.
Competitions have become a valuable tool. Boca Raton Fire Rescue teams have been competing in events since 1981. The teams train hard all through out the year on their own time to prepare for competitions. Training and competing allows teams to network, share ideas, training methods and equipment. The information that is taken back to the department is shared during training sessions which helps to provide the highest quality of emergency care to our citizens.

 Boca Raton, Florida: In a closed door meeting, Boca Raton City Council members met in an executive session to discuss the possibility of opening the firefighters’ contract to specifically talk about Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ retirement plan funding issues. The city has been in talks with the firefighters and police officers in hopes of achieving $5 million dollars of immediate savings. In an effort to help the city reach their goal, John Luca, President of the firefighters’ union and his leadership team were ready to meet
and start the dialogue. Unconscionably, when the doors opened, the city refused to meet with the firefighters. Instead they choose to wait on an independent study, which could cost the city in excess of $40,000 and would take nearly 6 months to complete. Opening the contract at this time would have a potential savings of $150 million dollars over the next thirty years. President Luca is calling a press conference at 11am on Monday, February 25, at Fire Station #5, located at 2333 West Glades Road, to discuss the City’s decision. Boca Raton Police Detective Kelly Shifflet, President of The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 38 will also be on hand for the conference.