Bridge Detours Delay Ambulance Times

Ambulance transport times are lagging by about one to three minutes due to detours created after the closure. The north end of the city is the most affected said  Joseph Klucznik.

"I wish I had five trucks in Rumford, but I don't," he said.

But though trips to the hospital might be delayed a bit, patient care is not compromised.

"People are asking where's the rescue? People see the fire trucks," said Klucznik. "But patient care has never been delayed."

In addition to IVs and medications, cutting-edge equipment is kept on licensed rescue firetrucks that can send a patient's heart information via EKGs to the hospital before arrival.

"It saves lives," he said.