National Emergency Medical Services Week: May 19 – 25, 2013
This
week is National Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Week, in honor of the dedicated men and women who provide critical day-to-day lifesaving
services on the “frontlines” of emergencies across the country. When conditions
can change in seconds, dual role firefighters/EMTs and
firefighter/paramedics in Montgomery County provide
sophisticated, state-of-the-art pre-hospital emergency medical care that can
often mean the difference between life and death. The fire department has a
rich history of protecting the health and safety of the community through an
‘all hazards’ response model and this week provides an opportunity to recognize
EMS contributions of the past and
build upon them for a safer tomorrow.
This year’s theme, ‘EMS: One
Mission. One Team,’ recognizes the integral role of EMS
providers with hospital emergency and trauma teams. Annually, 75 percent of
all Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service emergency calls are EMS-related and as the
public’s demand for emergency medical services has steadily increased over the
years, advances in medicine and technology have increased the role of EMS
providers in the field.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) has a national reputation for
excellence and is continually researching and implementing innovative protocols
to improve patient outcomes through advanced pre-hospital emergency medical
care. In 2009, the department implemented several critical
programs that demonstrate the department’s commitment to saving lives in the
community. With strong evidence nationally that pre-hospital care has a
profound impact on survival, the department was one of the first in the state
to implement and deploy paramedic-staffed engine companies which facilitates
faster access, improved pre-hospital care and enhanced patient care during an
emergency. In 2010, the department established the Emergency Cardiac Care
(ECC) program which allows paramedics to
transmit critical patient data directly and securely from remote locations to
area hospitals using sophisticated technology and equipment. This new
technology accelerates the diagnosis process while reducing critical time that
ultimately can make a difference in patient outcome and survival.
“In recent weeks, we have seen the critical role that
EMS
responders play in major events and times of disaster,” said Chief Steven Lohr.
“Today’s EMS system brings the first,
and often critical, hour of specialized emergency care right to the patient’s
side.When you have a medical emergency, you need immediate care. EMS Week provides an opportunity
to recognize the often less visible members of our lifesaving team who are
often first on the scene of emergencies and
medically complex calls and, on a daily basis, go above and beyond the
call of duty to save lives.”
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