05-15-2005 South Bend Fire Department Announces New Advanced Life saving Capabilities

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SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES NEW ADVANCED LIFE SAVL.. Page 1 of 2 � v%• 'Building a 21St Century City " ' rs Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor RELEASE FROM: FOR RELEASE: Office of the Mayor Date SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES NEW ADVANCED LIFE SAVING CAPABILITIES In observance of national EMS week, the South Bend Fire Department is proud to announce important equipment upgrades for its 15 Fire units and Rescue unit. The Fire Department has recently purchased new Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipment which now allows for full utilization of their Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate (EMT-1) personnel on EMS calls, before the arrival of an ambulance. The equipment includes ALS Monitor, Medication, Advance Airway equipment, and Basic EMS supplies. This additional equipment has allowed the Fire Department to reduce ALS response times when responding to the community. The cost of the equipment was $52,000 and funding came from the Emergency Medical Services Capital Improvement Fund. "South Bend is one of the first Fire Departments in the State of Indiana that has outfitted every piece of its fire apparatus with ALS equipment," stated Chief Taylor. This is a tremendous benefit to our citizens. Having ALS available prior to the arrival of the paramedic ambulance means that we can save more lives."The City of South Bend, through the Fire Department, can now provide advanced care to citizens who have severe medical conditions, during their medical crisis. "For those persons with existing medical conditions or someone experiencing a first-time emergency medical crisis, advanced life saving can mean the difference between life and death,"Taylor emphasized. Conditions under which emergency medical care can be administered prior to the arrival of an ambulance include cardiac arrest and other coronary trauma, toxic ingestion, allergic reactions, and cerebrovascular accidents. Several years ago, discussion took place with local medical directors, regarding shortages of EMS qualified and certified personnel. As a result, the South Bend Fire Department addressed this need by adopting a new State EMS certification program in an effort to increase employment opportunities and to enhance the medical knowledge of current EMS personnel. The certification program implemented, Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate (EMT-1), is one level under a Paramedic. In addition to this program, the SBFD hiring procedures were amended in 2003 to include the EMT-I certification as a condition of employment for all new firefighters, and which is to be completed within three years of their date of hire. As a result of this effort, the South Bend Fire Department now currently has thirty-seven (37) staff members who are able to be an ALS first responder on all of the Departments eleven (11) Engines, four (4) Quints, and Rescue unit, depending upon availability of staffing assignments. Contact: Chief Luther Taylor, 235-9255, Chief Randy Magdalinski, 235-7562, Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications &Special Projects, 235-5855/876-1564 http://www.ci.south-bend.in.us/Press/Releases 2005/052005 SBFD.htm 1/13/2006