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Firefighter-paramedics making a big difference in CA
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted (August 7, 2008)Aug. 7--VICTORVILLE -- In the 33 days that paramedic-trained firefighters have been on Victorville fire engines, several lives have been saved, including two 1-year-old children in two days, officials announced Wednesday.
S i n c e Ju ly 5 , t h e S a n Bernardino County Fire Department has been handling fire protection and paramedic services for the city of Victorville. In that time, it has responded to 769 medical emergencies in Victorville, said Gary Bush, Victorville battalion chief.
On Tuesday, Victorville station firefighters treated a 1-year-old girl who was found face up but submerged in a small inflatable pool, officials said.
On Wednesday, firefighterparamedics responded to a call that a 1-year-old boy may have accidentally hung himself. The child was eventually airlifted to Loma Linda Medical Center. The boy is alive but his condition is unknown, officials said.
"Very similar stuff like that happens every day in a city of 107,000," said Bush, who manages the paramedic program. "We're rolling right up to the front door and taking care of business."
Before the county took over services, the Victorville Fire Department wasn't authorized to have firefighter-paramedics on their engines. In some cases, minutes would go by before American Medical Response could arrive on scene and begin life-saving techniques.
"A large percentage of the time, we're there first," said Victorville Division Chief Sid Hultquist.
Another benefit of the paramedic-staffed fire engines is that when AMR does show up, they can team up with the firefighter-paramedic and work on one victim. In many cases one can perform life-saving techniques while another administers medicine, Hultquist said.
Bush added that with fire engines staffed with firefighter-paramedics, they can get into situations to help victims that AMR paramedics are not trained for, such as cliff rescues. Once there, they can immediately begin performing life-saving techniques.
"We're seeing some very positive things," added Bush. To see more of the Daily Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.vvdailypress.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
