U. S. Grant Leads to 36 Paramedics, 4 Rescue Vehicles in Clearwater, Fla.
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Starting with a federal grant obtained five years ago, the Clearwater, Fla., Fire Department now has 36 paramedics who provide emergency medical service with four rescue vehicles.
The fire rescue vehicles, which operate out of four of the department’s six stations, carry three-man crews—two paramedics and one paramedic lieutenant. They respond to 600 to 1100 incidents a month. The 32-square-mile Clearwater Fire Protection District has a permanent population of about 100,000, of which 40 percent are retired persons. In t he peak tourist season, the population doubles. There are 150 men in the fire department.
The paramedic program got its impetus when Chief John Pitts, Captain Robert Davidson, and Assistant City Manager Zussy successfully applied for a federal grant. Three rescues and four complete sets of emergency equipment were requisitioned.
Instruction started
Meanwhile, Richard Bickford was selected as the first instructor and he used nursing and respiratory care training aids from a local college. On August 15, 1974, 15 men graduated from the first Clearwater program. Soon after, 12 more followed in their steps and on February 2,1975, the first paramedic rescue was placed in service.
Clearwater opened Fire Station 6 on February 14,1978, and placed the fourth rescue in service. Training paramedics is now the responsibility of the St. Petersburg Junior College, which has a staff of four, including Barbara Finn, program director.
The fire rescues, which have telemetry contact with three local hospital emergency rooms, do not transport unless both of the private ambulance services are tied up. Should a medical emergency occur in the first response district of one of the stations without a rescue, that engine is dispatched. At least one EMT is a member of each of these engine companies. A rescue and an engine are dispatched to all vehicle accidents and a rescue, engine, and ladder to all heavy-duty rescues.
Course approved by state
Clearwater paramedics are graduates of a Florida State approved paramedic course totaling 480 hours. That, combined with their 100-hour EMT-1 and additional rescue courses, totals over 600 hours of training.
The Clearwater Fire Department medical director is Dr. Richard Slevinski. In certain critical care situations, Slevinski has formulated standing orders covering defibrillation, IVs, and some drugs which may be used before contact is made with a hospital.
The paramedics also are involved with several community programs. Two of them are the Vial of Life, which urges that important medical information be placed inside a special container kept in the household refrigerator, and the Pinellas County Heart Savers, which sponsors CPR instruction for the general public.
The rescue vehicles are of modular design and met DOT criteria for both vehicle and equipment.
Equipment carried
The medical equipment is in kit form for mobility.
The five first responder kits are an oxygen caddy, a biophone with patient limb leads, an EKG monitor with defibrillator, a trauma kit containing all first aid supplies and a drug box.
The rescue vehicles also carry other essential equipment, including shock trousers; a complement of Hare traction, air and padded board splints; half and full spineboards; obstetrical kits; burn kits; spare drug box; light-duty entryrescue kit; and a unique cervical pillow designed by one of Clearwater’s paramedics. Two of the four rescues carry Hurst Rescue Tools.
