By Frank R. Myers
At my former department, the majority of the firefighters working in the emergency response division were paramedic-certified. Our department had a major restructuring around 1994 since better building codes and fire prevention practices were resulting in fewer structural fires. Some fire suppression units were taken out of service permanently and replaced with basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) transport units. Eventually, these BLS units (two crew members) were reassigned as ALS units (three crew members). We ended up with practically two ALS transport units per station—which traditionally had only one—in addition to the suppression units. Our department was by no means alone in this transition; departments across the country began adding ALS and BLS units since a majority of alarms were medical.
A few of our stations were single-company stations and had only one ALS transport unit assigned after the restructuring. Therefore, the decision was made to make the pumper an ALS unit (nontransport). This proved to be a good idea. It required a few changes to the inventory, like adding ALS/medicine, intubation, and pediatric cases as well as exchanging automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) with electro cardiogramd (ECGs).
Why not make the switch? The paramedics were already on the fire truck. They had the knowledge, skills and abilities; all they needed were the tools. The State of Florida required that two members of these crews had to be medics. Rank aside, if paramedic intervention was needed, they ran the scene and treatment.
At these single-company stations (one pumper, one ALS transport), if the ALS transport unit was out on an alarm, the ALS pumper at that station would be dispatched if it was in its first-alarm territory or no other ALS units were available. Simultaneously, another ALS transport unit from another station/territory was dispatched. The pumper would get to the scene prior to the ALS transport unit arriving. The ALS pumper crew would initiate treatment and, in most circumstances, would have the patient stabilized and ready for transport. All the arriving transport unit had to do was place the patient in the truck, continue monitoring, and get to the hospital.
Every transport unit dispatched with the ALS pumper greatly appreciated the fact that they did not have to do all the initial tasks that normally took a lot of time—things such as reviewing patient history, medications, insurance info, demographics, events leading up to calling 911, etc. In the long run, we were providing better initial treatment and service to our citizens.
Plus, all they had to do was a short transport report rather than the full patient/treatment report. The ALS pumper officer would complete that portion of the report. Since we had better training from most of our personnel, why not use it? Those days were the best years of my career, combining driving and medics all at the same time—the best of both worlds. I miss those times. None of it would have been possible without the support of all crew members.
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Posted: Mar 4, 2016
Task Force Tips, Inc. has announced the acquisition of AMKUS Rescue Systems, of Downers Grove, Illinois. As a leader in the development and delivery of high performance firefighting products to emergency responders worldwide, TFT is proud to carry on the traditions of quality, service, and dependability that have been the hallmark of the AMKUS organization since 1971.
With new product innovation and a continued commitment to the support and growth of TFT’s distribution partners as a primary initiative, all engineering, service and manufacturing operations will eventually transition from the Illinois location to a new facility in Valparaiso.
While AMKUS Rescue Systems will maintain its own unique identity with its own distribution network, field managers, and marketing message, it will share TFT's extensive research, development and new product innovation resources. Task Force Tips's passion for developing products that save lives and protect property is a perfect fit for the continued expansion of the AMKUS Rescue System's product line and the shared commitment to emergency service professionals to provide innovative new products and world-class service and support.
For more information, visit www.tft.com or www.amkus.com.
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Posted: Mar 4, 2016
William Richard Saunders, of Blacksburg, formerly of Fairfax, VA died peacefully in his home on February 28, 2016. He was 60 years old.The son of Grace (Beth) Richards and Robert Saunders, Will was raised in Fairfax, VA alongside his five sisters and brothers: Jacqueline Barton, Robert Saunders, Elizabeth Cook, Donald Saunders, and Barbara Saunders.
A county official said the county’s volunteer firefighters are working with equipment that no longer meets federal safety standards.
A firefighter who gets hurt would be “out of luck” because the most of the county’s fire departments don’t carry workers’ compensation insurance for their firefighters, according to Walt Bailey, chairman of the Virginia Fire Services Board who recently co-authored a report on the state of the county’s emergency services.
The county has channeled money into Giles County’s 10 volunteer fire, medical and rescue nonprofits for more than a decade, but officials have not maintained financial oversight. The Pearisburg squad hasn’t been audited in at least 15 to 20 years, said County Administrator Chris McKlarney.
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Posted: Mar 4, 2016
Naperville residents traveling to Cancun, Mexico, on spring break might spot a familiar sight from home: The city's donated fire truck, complete with the Naperville Fire Department logo still on the side door. Cancun Fire Chief Thomas Hurtado stopped by Tuesday's Naperville City Council meeting to thank city officials for the ladder fire engine, which he said his department received in October.
The engine is a 25-year-old ladder truck that Naperville City Council agreed to donate in 2014, according to city reports. Naperville retired it in 2012.
The city had tried to sell the truck without success when Cancun officials approached Naperville leaders and asked if they might donate it. The city's hotel district is full of high-rise hotels that the ladder truck could help serve, according to city reports.
The fire engine traveled via truck to Miami and boarded a cargo ship to Cancun, according to city reports. Travel expenses were paid for by the City of Cancún and the Municipality of Benito Juarez of the State of Quintana Roo, México.
Hurtado said he hopes a few Naperville firefighters will visit Cancun to help train that city's firefighters. He also would like Cancun firefighters to visit Naperville and learn additional techniques.
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