Agenda - 10-03-2013 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services 96 and 911 /Communications Center Operations Study Issue: Response Time Recommendations: R -4. Assess Fire Department capabilities to meet BLS First Responder response time objectives. This recommendation calls for an independent, objective assessment of existing Fire Department capabilities and the actions, procedures, and associated costs -if any, to address the Medical First Responder response time objectives not yet established by the County. The information to be reviewed and assessed for each department will include at least, but not be limited to the following: • Department roster /membership • Number of paid vs. volunteer personnel • Available vehicles & relevant equipment • Station location(s) • Recent year call volume & type • Past call locations • Included map grids • Existing funding • Anticipated performance requirements R -5a. Schedule and implement Fire Department MFR initiative which includes performance objectives. R -5b. Staff and equip four (4) EMS Quick Response Vehicles (QRV's) for assignment, initially, 12 hours /day, 7 days /week with shift start /end times to be determined by EMS. Should the findings and recommendations identified in the Assessment of Fire Department Capabilities recommended in R -4 be approved by the County, R -5a the implementation of the individual and collective Fire Department initiatives should take place as soon as possible following approval. Granted all actions and recommendations approved may not be able to occur at the same time for various reasons; i.e. logistics, funding, availability of personnel, etc. Note that specific performance objectives, particularly with regards to response time, have not been defined at this time. This issue should be addressed during the Assessment (R -4) process, with every Fire Chief individually and with every Department having an opportunity to provide input. In the event that the findings and recommendations identified in the Assessment of Fire Department Capabilities recommended in R -4 not be acceptable to the County, an alternative means of providing a medically trained and certified first responders on the scene of a medical emergency "fast "; i.e. much faster than the EMS average response times recorded in recent years; is critical. Subsequently, the alternative recommendation in this case is that stated in R -5b. While not as widespread as 12 fire departments, four (4) single - person ALS Quick Response Vehicles (QRV's), appropriately deployed and monitored with regards to directing placement, can go a long way towards improving the initial first response to medical emergencies which is currently averaging 2 -3 times that established by NFPA and others as the recommended standard for medical emergencies. Note that this concept does not take an EMT out of an ambulance and put them in a car instead. It places an EMT in a vehicle with the single purpose of improving the Medical First Responder times to medical emergencies ... "get there fast, assess the situation, stabilize /treat the patient, communicate the conditions found and await an ALS Medic Unit to arrive to transport the patient if necessary ". The EMT does not leave his /her vehicle to ride in the ambulance. Once control is assumed by the Medic Unit, the assigned EMT will be "in service" and resume the duties assigned. Solutions for Local Government, Inc. 52