Chief’s Message
March has been an exciting month as we begin to ramp up an exciting new program, Advanced Life Support (ALS) First Response.
On February 28th we went to our City Council to request the ability to enhance our medical first response capabilities and capacity from a Basic Life Support (EMT) level to an Advanced Life Support (Paramedic) level. Our City Council was very supportive of this initiative and allowed the fire department to begin the implementation process for this initiative. The enhanced medical care will have an impact on all in the City. It allows the fire department to provide an advanced level of care in a matter of minutes, better mitigating life-saving incidents and improving hospital outcomes. It is yet another significant tool in our toolbox to better serve our community.
Over the next several months we will be purchasing appropriate equipment, like 12-lead ECG monitors, and other pertinent medications and interventions to begin providing this service. It is our goal to procure and train on the equipment over the next several months with an anticipated start to the ALS First Response program late summer, early fall!
As we transition into spring and warmer weather I wanted to remind everyone of the importance of safe outdoor cooking and grilling. Please make sure to keep your grill clean, at least 10 feet away from your home, away from deck railings and out from under eaves. Most home fires involving grills are caused by gas grills, check gas tank hose and tubing and ensure it is in proper order before using.