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EMS workers respond to call

  • Published
  • By Airman Sean M. Crowe
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Every step in the EMS process has its own specialist whether it is a firefighter, EMT or ALST. Each emergency response professional undergoes respective training and expertise, personal experience, trials and tribulations. The varying professionals come together to achieve a common goal: to ensure the safety and well-being of their communities. This is reflected in National Emergency Medical Services Week 2013 motto, "one mission, one team."

May 19-25, 2013, marks NEMSW to recognize EMS professionals across the country.

The Joint Base Fire Department here employs firefighters who are also certified as emergency medical technicians; dedicated EMTs; and advanced life support technicians.

"We respond to more medical emergencies than fires so it's imperative to recognize the hard work and dedication of our EMS professionals," said Senior Master Sgt. Charles Morris, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services deputy chief.

EMS professionals work to ensure a standard response time of 10 minutes from the time of an incident to on-scene response. Firefighters and EMTs stay on alert at the firehouse for any announcements from the loud speaker. They also ensure their equipment on board their vehicles is maintained and ready for action.

"I've learned in my 20 years as an EMT that anything can happen when responding to a call," said fire Capt. David Harris, 87th FES paramedic. "The most important thing is to use common sense and rational thinking to work through the unexpected situations."

The process begins when a person in distress calls 9/11 and is routed to the fire and EMS dispatch center which is located in the firehouse. Dispatchers receive the call and then determine the best course of action based on a strategic series of questions designed to provide the most-relevant information. The dispatcher's goal is to get a response team into action within one minute of receiving the call. He or she will remain on the phone with the caller until the tasked team arrives on-scene. Dispatchers are specially trained to provide comfort and advice to distressed callers.

"Handling medical calls is the most difficult part of the job in my opinion," said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Fawbush, 87th CES Fire Alarm Communications Center noncommissioned officer in charge. "People want comfort during that time of stress and it makes those calls extremely personal. One of our dispatchers had to deliver a baby over the phone recently."

The dispatcher assisted the father with delivering the baby on Lakehurst from the dispatch center on McGuire.

The dispatch center takes calls and dispatches for all EMS services on the joint base.
Dispatchers are firefighters who become certified to serve a six-month rotation in the center.

Firefighters take the reins when they rush to the scene.

"EMTs typically arrive after firefighters because the firefighters provide scene security for any chemical or fire issues," said Tech. Sgt. Wilsondo Alteus, 87th MDG Ambulance Services noncommissioned officer in charge. "Firefighters will also begin providing any treatment they can until EMTs arrive on scene since they are also EMS trained."

The ALSTs must respond if further treatment is required on scene. EMTs cannot administer IV or medications. ALSTs will be notified of a response and are prepared to dispatch even if they do not ultimately have to respond.

"The toughest part of the job is always the unpredictability," said Senior Airman Robert Goldsberry, 87th MDG Ambulance Services aerospace medical technician.

"We can get a lot more done together than we can alone," said Morris.

EMS professionals dispatch from one of four stations at JB MDL. Three stations are on McGuire and Dix in addition to the one firehouse on Lakehurst which is manned with its own EMTs and ambulance.

First responders saved a man's life on Dix during National EMS Week. Stations three and four here responded at 10:30 a.m. May 20, 2013, to Griffith Field House to find a male in cardiac arrest. GFH employees administered life-saving shocks with an automated external defibrillator until firefighters were able to take over and perform CPR. EMTs transported the man to Deborah Hospital while still in cardiac arrest. The man regained consciousness while in route to the hospital where he began recovery.

Examples of saved lives like this one happen routinely with the help of the joint base's EMS personnel. The responders 12-hour shifts on a panama schedule to ensure the safety and well-being of their community.