National Emergency Medical Services Week: May 15 – 21, 2016

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.

EMS Provider Of The Month Ceremony

Today we honored several members of the department, along with a Montgomery County resident, for actions over the last several months that resulted in lives being saved.

The video below was from our live Periscope feed this morning.

Congratulations to Our Newest Firefighters and EMT's

This past Friday evening a graduation ceremony was held at our Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA) for Twenty-One (21) newly certified volunteer Firefighters and Fifty-Nine (59) newly certified volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's).

Each person went through rigorous training and a challenging course load throughout the summer months to attain the certifications.  Family and friends packed the PSTA to honor and cheer on their loved ones as they received recognition for this tremendous achievement.

Congratulations to all!

Videos and photos from the ceremony below.

EMS Provider of the Month

By: Captain W. Hout
      Fire Station 2 B-Shift

Congratulations to Firefighter Adam Bearne (Takoma Park) for receiving the EMS Provider of the Month Award. Adam earned this recognition for successfully diagnosing and performing the Heimlich Maneuver on a choking victim. 

Adam is pictured receiving the award from Lt. Erin Wirth. 

December EMS Providers of the Month

L-R Lt. Ney, Dr. Stone MCFRS Medical Director, Captain Murdock
and Battalion Chief Butsch from MCFRS EMS Section

On Tuesday, January 13 personnel from Clarksburg Fire Station 35 were recognized as EMS Providers of the Month for December.   

The recognition was a result of the crew’s rapid actions taken on December 17 that resulted in swift treatment and transport of a patient suffering a significant heart attack.  

Personnel receiving this prestigious recognition were Lieutenant/Paramedic Kirk Ney, Firefighter Roger Fails, Firefighter Greyson Brown, Firefighter/Paramedic Blaine Kring, Firefighter James Henry, Firefighter Robert Snavely.  In addition to a certificate, the EMS Providers of the Month also receive a beautiful challenge coin.

From the commendation letter:

“On December 17, 2014, you were dispatched for a 57 y/o male experiencing chest pain.  On the scene, you quickly realized the patient was a STEMI.  You performed numerous basic and advanced life support skills, quickly transported, and en-route to the hospital, continued a high level of care for the patient.  With your quick assessment, transmission of EKG, notification of STEMI, your skills, and teamwork, this patient had a door to balloon time of only 35 minutes.”

For many of you, some of the above verbiage is more than likely not clear.  Below is some background which will no doubt highlight just how impressive the crews’ actions were and the tremendous resources we have in Montgomery County. 

Background

STEMI (ST- segment elevation myocardial infarction) is a type of heart attack. 

EKG (or ECG) - electrocardiogram which is a test that checks for issues with the electrical activity of your heart.

In 2010, the department established the Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) program which allows paramedics to transmit critical data directly and securely from remote locations to area hospitals using sophisticated technology and equipment.  This allows the hospital team to mobilize and be standing by to intervene with angioplasty, as needed, so that blocked heart vessels can be opened and blood flow to the heart restored which can ultimately make a difference in patient outcome.  

The time period from diagnosis to the opening of the vessels is known as “door to balloon” or D2B time. According to guidelines by the American Heart Association, optimal D2B time is 90 minutes or less.

 

L-R; FP1 Kring, FF Brown, Capt. Murdock, Dr. Stone and BC Butsch

What Slows Down Emergency Responders When Every Second Counts

This from NBC Nightly News that we were a part of.  Part Two is below.

MCFRS Significant Incident Map

For the week of Sunday, July 21 – Saturday, July 27.  Just a reminder that the below events are only a snap shot of the number of emergencies we respond too.  These are the incidents that we feel are significant in nature.

View MCFRS Significant Incident Map in a larger map

Addition of an EMS Supervisor in the 1st Battalion

 By: Master Firefighter Tim Burns

On  Sunday July 14, 2013 Montgomery County Fire and Rescue expanded its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) supervision capabilities to include a 2nd EMS duty officer who will be quartered at Fire Station 19 on Seminary Road in the Montgomery Hills Section of Silver Spring.

While their responsibilities will encompass the entire lower county area as well as backing up the other duty officer county-wide, this addition brings much needed support to the paramedics and EMTs of the 1st Battalion.

The 1st Battalion is the home to a large number of EMS calls.  At the same time, the transport times are often short due to the relatively small geographic area and the

abundance of hospitals (including trauma centers).  When a responding duty officer is coming from Gaithersburg or Rockville they are ineffective simply because the entire patient interaction is over by the time they make it to the scene, let alone before the critical interventions that occur in the first few minutes of the event have taken place.

Along with on-scene support these EMS supervisors will provide enhanced quality improvement efforts and a more local liaison to the down county hospitals.

We in the 1st Battalion would like to welcome Captain Bill Phelps on A-Shift, Captain Jason Giza on B-Shift and Captain Stacy Jones on C-Shift.

You’re Going To Do What!?

By: Master Firefighter Tim Burns

One of the new and helpful treatments brought to patients in Montgomery County is the EZ-IO intraosseous infusion system. This tool allows paramedics to place a needle directly into the marrow cavity of certain long bones of the legs or arms of critically ill or injured patients. This skill takes very little time to accomplish (often times significantly less time than traditional intravenous catheter placement) and speeds the delivery of necessary fluids and/or medications to the sickest patients we see.

As you can see from the photo, the EZ-IO device looks a lot like a drill, and it operates much the same. The needle sticks on the end of the gun and is “drilled” into the bone.

While the process may seem barbaric to a casual observer, actual patient testimony reveals that the pain associated with the placement of the needle is comparable to that of a normal IV placement. The infusion of fluid and medications through the device is what patients report to be most painful, and in Montgomery County we typically administer a numbing medication prior to the administration of anything through an EZ-IO.

The literature shows that successful placement of the EZ-IO can be accomplished with minimal training, with a high degree of reliability, and takes under 10 seconds.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Earns Prestigious Congressional Fire Service Industry Excellence in Fire Service-Based Award

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service received the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS award at the 25^th Annual Congressional Fire and Emergency Services dinner this week. The award is designed to recognize best practices and highlight innovations in the delivery of emergency medical services.

Established in 1989, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute that works with members of Congress in promoting fire and life safety issues. Working with other national fire service organizations, the Institute focuses its attention on issues that benefit all first responders. Members of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, the largest caucus in Congress, look to CFSI for guidance and information to enhance their level of understanding about the challenges and needs of the nation’s fire and EMS communities. Each year, CFSI and the MedicAlert Foundation honor and recognize departments that have made outstanding contributions.

Annually, 75 percent of all Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service emergency calls are EMS-related and the demand for emergency medical services can quickly challenge available resources. Since 2009, the department has developed and 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. 

When every second counts, receiving the right medical care in minutes can mean the difference between life and death. The window of time from when a patient starts experiencing heart attack symptoms to the moment the patient receives treatment is a critically important period. In 2010, the department established the Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) program which allows paramedics to transmit critical data directly and securely from remote locations to area hospitals using sophisticated technology and equipment. The new technology accelerates the diagnosis process while shaving off critical time that ultimately can make a difference in patient outcome and survival.

While hospitals and first responders have many protocols in place to ensure that cardiac patients are diagnosed and treated quickly, providing this early diagnosis “en route” ensures that the hospital team will be mobilized and standing by to intervene with angioplasty, as needed, so that blocked heart vessels can be opened, blood flow to the heart restored and heart muscle (and lives) saved.  The time period from diagnosis to the opening of the vessels is known as “door to balloon” or D2B time. According to guidelines by the American Heart Association, optimal D2B time is 90 minutes or less.

“This award reflects our ongoing investment in and dedication to excellence in our Fire and Rescue Service,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “I am very proud of the hard work of each and every member of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service who has placed us in a position to be nationally recognized for this prestigious award.”

“This award is testament to the commitment and dedication of the entire department and also reflects the hard work and collaboration of our hospital partners,” said Fire Chief Steve Lohr. “We strive to stay on the leading edge of the most advanced technology and industry practices available which translates into providing the best possible care - - one patient at a time.”

With strong evidence that rapid response by fire and EMS personnel, combined with state-of-the- art technology and pre-hospital care, these projects are examples of teamwork and technology saving lives. 

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Receives Federal Grant to Update Critical Equipment

New equipment may be one of the most vital life-saving pieces on County ambulances

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service was awarded a $1,192,800 Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace dated cardiac defibrillators with the most advanced generation of cardiac monitor/defibrillator equipment on the market. The County will provide a matching amount of $298,200 towards the purchase of the equipment.

Cardiac monitors/defibrillators are indispensable and vital to first responders. The equipment is utilized in conjunction with State and County protocols to deliver advanced cardiac support and to obtain electrocardiograph assessments in order to determine the most appropriate course of treatment. The equipment may be used as an initial diagnostic tool or as a source of continuous information to evaluate a patient’s response to treatment. It will allow first responders to quickly diagnose a patient in the field, provide quick access to clinical information and faster treatment while simultaneously transmitting critical patient information directly to the hospital’s emergency department prior to and during patient transport. The equipment (known as Lifepak 15s) also has additional life-saving technology that features integrated carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring that measures vital blood gases and CO levels in the blood resulting in quicker diagnosis and patient stabilization. 

Early defibrillation is a critical component in treating cardiac patients and the Cardiac Monitors/Defibrillators are essential in cardiac arrest emergencies and other potentially lethal cardiac rhythms which require an electrical intervention. With an EMS call volume of over 80,000 incidents each year, protecting and saving lives is Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s core mission and the ability to upgrade our inventory of cardiac monitor defibrillators through the grant award will be instrumental in continuing to offer the best and most advanced emergency medical care to the residents of Montgomery County and its visitors.

The equipment (known as Lifepak 15s) has capabilities that are superior to the current model and will allow first responders to detect and treat cardiac events, monitor heart rhythms, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, diagnose heart attacks, shock hearts back into normal rhythms, provides external pacing and defibrillation for difficult-to-defibrillate patients. The units also have additional life-saving technology integrated that features a carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring feature that measures vital blood gases and CO levels in the blood which facilitates a quicker diagnosis and patient stabilization.   

“I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it’s the difference between life and death.  First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski. “Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the equipment, training and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”

“When a natural disaster occurs or we are faced with a terrorist attack, it is our first responders who provide the first line of defense for our citizens,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “This federal funding is an important investment in keeping Maryland families and businesses safe if, and when, a disaster strikes. It ensures that our first responders have the resources they need to protect us and the equipment and training they need to do their jobs.”  

“I am pleased that this grant will enable us to do more to support the critical missions of our firefighters in Montgomery County by providing them with funding for 40 new cardiac monitors/defibrillators,” said Congressman Chris Van Hollen. “This new equipment will help ensure that our community’s emergency responders have the full array of tools that they need to do their jobs and keep our fellow citizens safe.” 

The units cost over $37,000 each and, with daily opportunities to put the new equipment with its expanded capabilities and technology to work, the average cost per use is less than $8.00 over the course of the equipment’s life span. By upgrading the department’s cardiac monitors, first responders will have a very dynamic and advanced tool to provide the assessment and treatment of the most critically ill and injured patients which, ultimately, will translate into lives saved.

“I want to thank Senators Mikulski and Cardin and Congressman Van Hollen for their efforts to provide this grant to Montgomery County for more advanced cardiac defibrillators,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “This new equipment will help our first responders save even more lives, and for that we are grateful.” 

“Over half of the department’s cardiac defibrillators have been in use since 2002 and exceed the recommended replacement schedule. These new monitors are state-of-the-art and will allow us to provide the highest level of service and to achieve our most important job - - saving lives,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “Every day, our first responders put their lives on the line to protect our residents and it’s crucial that they are equipped to handle any emergency. This is a great investment to better serve the residents of Montgomery County and those in the region.”

EMS Appreciation

By: Captain Beth Sanford, MCFRS EMS Quality Assurance

Last week Montgomery County Fire & Rescue (MCFRS) personnel participated in an event, at the Germantown Emergency Center (GEC), in which staff from Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and the GEC gathered to say thanks to MCFRS personnel for their support of the GEC over the past five years. 

Those present were treated to a healthy assortment of breakfast treats and the opportunity for casual interaction amongst the administrative and medical staff from Adventist and personnel from MCFRS Fire Stations 22 and 34, as well as from the MCFRS EMS Section.  Thanks to Adventist for thinking of us!

Below are some photos from the gathering.