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ORANGE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE STUDY <br />INTRODUCTION <br />1 judged average fire potential, a department must be able to pump a certain gpm <br />2 and volume of water at a scene. <br />3 <br />4 IRV -Independent Rescue Vehicle: the program used by Orange County EMS that <br />5 assigns a paramedic to a vehicle and dispatches one or -more of these units to a <br />6 medical call. The objective is for the paramedic to perform a more detailed <br />7 analysis/diagnosis and determine the level of transport required, or if any transport <br />8 is even necessary. ~ This program is unique within the State of North Carolina and <br />9 allows the County to operate with EMS fewer transport units and a resulting lower <br />10 level of EMS staffing. The program requires rigorous quality control oversight and <br />11 analysis. <br />12 <br />13 Medical First Responder - Usually a fire department member trained in basic <br />14 emergency medical care and certified to conduct patient assessment, take and <br />15 record vital signs, gather initial impressions to provide to higher level certified EMS <br />16 personnel upon their arrival at the scene. First responders axe usually the first to <br />17 arrive at a scene and may have to provide care at their level of training for as much <br />18 as 20 minutes prior to the arrival of higher level certified personnel. First <br />19 responders are critical to the EMS system as they are closer in proximity (especially <br />20 in the volunteer system) to most incidents/patients and their training can enable <br />21 them to help stabilize a patient, saving lives. <br />22 <br />23 Paramedic - .Also known as a medic. This is the highest level of certification for EMS <br />24 providers. Paramedics are authorized to make a diagnosis, determine the need for <br />25 emergency transport, and administer drugs in accordance with medical protocols <br />26 and physician instruction. <br />27 <br />28 POV =Indicates response to an incident in one's personally owned vehicle rather <br />29 than in the department's apparatus. Many departments allow POV in order to get <br />30 personnel to the scene most effectively, with a policy that requires responding to <br />31 the station if it is between the member and the incident. <br />32 <br />33 Pumper or Engine -Afire apparatus used -for initiai attacks on a fire. These usually <br />34 carry less water onboard than tankers, and are configured with attack hose lines for <br />35 interior fire attack on a structure fire. These are usually the first units to respond <br />36 and the first to arrive at a scene. <br />37 <br />8 <br />