ALS-equipped Engine Crew Saving Lives in Florida
Two lives were saved in Myakka City three weeks ago.
Two lives were saved in Myakka City three weeks ago.
Perhaps routine news for the Myakka City Fire Department, whose members responded to the calls from heart attack victims, but fire Chief Danny Cachiotti said those are two more lives saved by faster response times.
He attributes the cut in response times for medical emergencies to the department's Advanced Life Support Fire Engine, which is staffed by county paramedics.
At the county commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously for updating an agreement between the county's Emergency Medical Services Division and the Myakka City Fire District to provide Emergency Medical Services staffing for the ALS Fire Engine at Myakka's station No. 1.
The Advanced Life Support Fire Engine, equipped with the same supplies found in an ambulance, provides the 230-square-mile area with the closest sources of an EMS unit to respond to emergency calls.
Prior to entering into the initial interlocal agreement in 2000, the closest EMS unit to respond to calls in Myakka City was near Lake Manatee, by Dam Road, about 20 miles away.
"The time it took an ALS unit to get out here was taking anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to get to certain locations in our district," said Cachiotti. "With having this interlocal agreement that ALS care is delivered in minutes. We've cut down response times from three to six minutes."
Cachiotti said though the ALS engine is equipped to treat victims on the scene, the vehicle cannot transport victims to a hospital like an ambulance truck could.
Though the agreement has been in place since 2000, Cachiotti said he and Mark Edenfield, division chief of the county's EMS department, sat down to review how measures could be updated to improve service.
"We focused on the training," Edenfield said. "We want to make sure all of the personnel will be equally trained."
Under the new agreement the county will provide medical training for the district's firefighters, who along with EMTs, will serve periodically at other county EMS stations to "ensure skill proficiency," according to the written agreement.
The county's six paramedics who rotate shifts and work in Myakka City will also receive training, as the fire district will provide them with instruction in "fire suppression."
"It makes everyone more qualified," said Cachiotti.
Edenfield said having an EMS team based out of Myakka City's Fire Station No. 1 on Wauchula Road has created a 50 percent reduction in response time for calls in the area.
The division chief added that the EMS division is planning to enter into a similar agreement with the East Manatee Fire District, when a station opens on Lorraine Road and State Road 70.
Still, Edenfield said it is too early to talk about possibly having another EMS team at the yet to be opened Myakka City Fire Station No. 2 on State Road 70 near Verna Bethany Road.
"I would hope that down the road, as the station grows, we could discuss that," Cachiotti said.
Laura Figueroa, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7906 or lfigueroa@HeraldToday.com.
