What does the Fire Department do at a Medical Emergency?

Early Intervention - Your Role
The Emergency Medical Services System begins even before the call is made to 911. You are the most important link in the "Chain of Survival." If you can identify an emergency early when it happens, and intervene quickly, you can offer the best hope of recovery from friends, family, or even strangers. We encourage everyone to learn first aid and techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. And, when deciding when to call, use this simple rule: IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, CALL! Yes, we do get calls that are not emergencies. However, it is better to react quickly, than not to react at all. This is especially important for chest pains. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death nationwide. If someone is having abnormal chest pain, please call. Don't wait.

Dispatch
When calling 911 in Washington Township, your call will first be routed to the Lucas County 911 Center. This dispatcher will ask you whether the emergency is a fire, medical problem, or law enforcement emergency. Medical emergencies are then routed to Lucas County EMS Dispatchers. These dispatchers are trained in Emergency Medical Dispatch techniques to properly sort out the call. This sorting is called "triage". After confirming your telephone number and address, the call-taker will ask you questions about the type of emergency. While this is being done, another dispatcher will dispatch the emergency. If you need medical instructions, including CPR, to help the patient, the call-taker will walk you step-by-step through this information.

Response
The type of response to the emergency varies on the type and severity of the medical problem as determined the Emergency Medical Dispatch program. A typical response is our Rescue Unit and at least 2 EMTs. Volunteer fire departments and emergency medical services are unique in being able to provide medical care within just a few minutes of the call. This is because Emergency Medical Technicians who live in your neighborhood can drive directly to the emergency from their home. This may take a few seconds to just a couple of minutes. This helps give our patients the best chance at survival. If the emergency is more serious, our ALS Engine Company and a Lucas County EMS Life Squad are also dispatched. Both our EMS Squad and our ALS Engine carry basic and advanced medical supplies including a cardiac monitor and defibrillator.

Care
The minimum certification level for all WTFD members is the Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (There are three levels of Emergency Medical Technician: Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic.) There are currently 4 Paramedics on our roster. EMT-Basics can perform assessments, provide basic stabilization skills including automated cardiac defibrillation, and administer oxygen and a limited number of medicated treatments. Paramedics can administer intravenous medications and perform some minor emergent surgical procedures. All of our activities are performed by written protocol and with on-line medical direction. WTFD EMTs and Paramedics will provide initial on-scene care or may choose to transport the patient to the nearest hospital immediately (rather than waiting for a Life Squad to arrive) if their condition is acutely life-threatening. For patients requiring Advanced Life Support, the Life Squad will transport the patient to the closest available hospital, usually St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. For less serious conditions (classified as Basic Life Support), a private ambulance may be called to transport the patient to the hospital of their choice.