Guest Commentary: Fire trucks are often closest emergency units
Why does a Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Fire Engine come when you call for an ambulance?
A fire truck will many times arrive at an incident first because it is the closest emergency unit to the scene. The M/PIFCD is committed to getting help to your location as fast as possible. To achieve this, all M/PIFCD firefighters are trained and certified Emergency Medical Technicians. In addition, E-152, located in St. James City, is staffed with a Lee County EMS paramedic. Depending on the severity, medical emergencies can require three to six providers to initiate life-saving pre-hospital care. Sending the closest M/PIFCD unit provides the best patient outcome, especially during a cardiac or respiratory arrest. Early defibrillation (AED) and high-quality CPR increases the patient’s survival rate. Currently, Lee County EMS has one ambulance stationed within the fire district. That unit is housed at Station 1, located at the center. The next closest ambulance would come from Cape Coral. Many times your fire district is dispatched to several emergency calls simultaneously.
Many people have asked, “Why not send a fire truck to just the critically injured or ill patients?” The truth is, in almost all incidents, that emergency responders do not know how critical the patient is until they get on the scene. It is the standard operating procedure for the M/PIFCD to arrive at the scene of a medical emergency with the appropriate number of personnel to treat the patient. What may appear to be a minor illness or injury to the untrained bystander can turn out to be more serious. This serious condition requires additional skills and staffing from firefighters assigned to the fire apparatus to properly treat the patient.
Together, the fire truck and ambulance crews make a highly efficient team to provide you with an unsurpassed level of care.
If you are interested in learning about CPR, give us a call at 239-283-0030 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. As always, “Our family Serving Yours!”
Ben Mickuleit is the fire chief for the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District.