Mount Airy Fire Department Medical Response Report
2012 The Mount Airy Fire Department began answering medical calls on a limited basis in 1997. However, in December 2010 our department began our Expanded Medical Program which entailed responding to all medical incidents in the city limits, excluding medically staffed facilities such as nursing homes and doctors offices. The fire department provides an invaluable service to the residents and guests of Mount Airy by our members possessing the ability to provide aggressive lifesaving medical care before advance life support (EMS) arrives. In the year 2012, the Mount Airy Fire Department had an average response time of 2 minutes and 24 seconds to every incident in the city limits. The critical minutes of patient care by fire department personnel before the arrival of emergency medical services has been the difference between life and death in many situations. Once our level of care is transferred to EMS personnel, we assist paramedics with other functions such as loading of patients, setting up advance life support equipment, and driving the ambulance to the hospital.
2012 Medical Responses The Mount Airy Fire Department has provided medical care for 5,603 patients since the implementation of this program. In 2012, our department has answered 1,186 medical related incidents, 142medical assists, and responded to 82 motor vehicle accidents with injuries. While answering these emergencies, we found 25 victims in full cardiac arrest and 5 additional in respiratory arrest. A victim in cardiac arrest is described as not breathing and their heart has stopped beating. With the exception of some recently hired employees, our personnel are medically certified to provide basic medical care which includes cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiac defibrillation with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Since 1997, resuscitative efforts have been delivered to 154patients in cardiac arrest with our AEDs. All of our department s apparatus are equipped with a variety of medical equipment such as fully stocked trauma bags, oxygen delivery devices, spinal immobilization / splinting gear, and airway stabilization devices. Training The fire department has 33 employees who hold North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician Certifications (EMT). This certification requires up to 208 hours of classroom and clinical training. To maintain these medical credentials, each member is required to obtain 24 hours of medical training each year. In accordance with North Carolina State Office of EMS guidelines, each member must have 96 total hours in each 4 year re-certification period. These continuing education hours are received in addition to the 36 hours required to satisfy state mandates for firefighter certifications. This medical training is delivered monthly at our Rockford Street Station by instructors from Surry Community College and Surry County EMS. These monthly training exercises cover various topics to ensure personnel are updated and educated on the ever changing medical advances. To ensure personnel are retaining knowledge from these training sessions, all certified persons are required to complete a tested practical evolution annually.
In 2012, all certified EMTs received additional training on Lifepack 15 Cardiac Monitors. This training will enable our personnel to set up and complete heart rhythms analysis. The information obtained from a cardiac monitor provides a much faster on scene time for the advance life support crew (EMS) during a cardiovascular event. In addition to this Lifepack 15 class, all personnel received their advanced skills upgrade training, which allows for the continued operation of advanced airway (intubation) and medication delivery. County E-911 S Medical Incidents by Month
C
Annual Medical Incident Totals
Making a Difference The Mount Airy Fire Department medical program has impacted many individuals in our community since its inception. Our department has been awarded 47 life saves since the beginning of this program 14 years ago by the Surry County EMS Audit and Review Committee. A life save is awarded to personnel who performs an action that directly changes the outcome of someone s life. Actions that merit a medical save are cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation with an AED, performing artificial ventilations on a patient who is not breathing, controlling a life threatening hemorrhage, and removing someone from a hazardous environment that is immediately dangerous to life and health. Receiving a life save is a very significant accomplishment for an employee to obtain during the course of their career.