Allen joins M/PIFCD as assistant chief of EMS
The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District last week welcomed Cody Allen aboard as the new assistant chief of EMS, he said, in an effort to implement the Advanced Life Support program into the district, giving a broader scope of practice to first responders on medical calls.
“This is something that I’m very passionate about, being a paramedic myself,” said Allen, who started work for the district on Aug. 1. “It’s always been a passion of mine to have a wider reach and a broader range to affect an entire community, and this position gives me that ability.”
Allen has a decade-long background in medicine, having worked in hospital and pre-hospital medicine, specializing in emergency medicine. This focus, he said, gives him a unique perspective, having seen medicine in both worlds.
Chief Ben Mickuleit said he is very happy to have Allen aboard, as ALS has been an ongoing focus of his for the department.
“The stations are perfectly located in the community,” said Mickuleit. “We only have one transporting unit — Lee County EMS at station one, so if our providers can do a quick assessment and provide that vital information to the ambulance, the hospital can be informed, so they can prepare, or dispatch the helicopter if necessary.”
This, Mickuleit said, will be a time-saver in an emergency situation. Most of the time, he anticipates a fire truck being first to arrive on the scene of an emergency, unless the call comes from the center where Station one and the medic unit leave at the same time.
Allen said his passion and drive is to make the community better in every aspect, but specifically in the realm of pre-hospital medicine.
Mickuleit said one of Allen’s first projects will be undertaking a program to ensure the department carries Epinephrine. One of the reasons it’s taken time is the expense, Mickuleit said.
“Our medical director is allowing us to carry EpiPens,” said Mickuleit. “We just have to create the proper procedures and protocol, find a good way to buy it, and we can go from there.”