Hahn Celebrates New Paramedic Unit in Whittier

Photo credit: Diandra Jay

Whittier, CA January 19, 2024– Today Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, and Whittier City Councilmembers, and LA County Fire Department officials celebrated a new paramedic unit stationed at LA County Fire Department Station 59 in Whittier.  The new unit is shortening response times amid rising emergency medical calls in the Whittier area.

“In the past few years, residents in the Whittier area have been calling 911 for medical emergencies more often and that was putting a strain on our LA County Fire Department paramedic units and meant longer response times,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Fixing this problem became a priority for my office and this new additional paramedic team dedicated to Whittier is worth celebrating.”

The new Paramedic Unit at Fire Station 59 is made up of two paramedics. Last year, Supervisor Hahn celebrated a new LA County Fire Paramedic Assessment Unit at Station 28 which is made up of one paramedic and emergency medical technician partners. Both new units are proving effective in shortening response times to emergency medical calls across the Whittier region.

“This is the end of a dream come true,” said Mayor Joe Vinatieri who, along with Councilmember Cathy Warner, requested the paramedic unit and the paramedic assessment unit.

“Our residents need to know that their lives matter,” said Supervisor Hahn. “And no matter where they live, when they pick up the phone in need of help for themselves or a loved one, help will be on the way– fast.”

At the event, Supervisor Hahn reflected on the importance of paramedics in our emergency response system decades after her father, Supervisor Kenny Hahn, launched the nation’s first paramedic program here in Los Angeles County.