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December 12, 2005
Shelley Szafraniec
Community Information Specialist

COUNTY UPGRADES STONE ISLAND FIRE STATION TO ALS

Residents of the Enterprise and Stone Island area can sleep a little easier now that their neighborhood fire station now offers Advanced Life Support (ALS) as a part of its emergency medical services. Volusia County Fire Station 34 was upgraded from Basic Life Support (BLS) to ALS on December 5.

Over the last five years, the County has more than tripled the number of its ALS fire stations, according to Fire Chief Jim Tauber. Fifteen of the agency’s 23 stations are licensed by the state to provide Advanced Life Support by paramedic firefighters.

Volusia County Fire Station 34 is at 1700 Enterprise/Osteen Rd., Enterprise. The station serves the residents of Enterprise and Stone Island and the adjacent unincorporated area.

“Persons experiencing a medical emergency such as a heart attack, stroke, or traumatic injury often require immediate care for these potentially life-threatening events,” said County Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Captain Susan Whitlock. “As soon as the crews arrive, they can begin administering advanced lifesaving care.”

The upgrade to ALS means the station will be staffed 24 hours a day with a paramedic and an emergency medical technician (EMT), Whitlock said. Paramedics can provide advanced cardiac and respiratory care, involving the use of special diagnostic equipment and the delivery of certain medications. It also means more invasive medical procedures may be provided to patients, including those suffering traumatic injuries.

“A high percentage of the medical calls in the area require advanced care,” Whitlock said. “Now that fire crews have the capability to initiate intravenous solutions and medications, they will be able to stabilize patients more quickly.”

Volusia County Fire Services’ Station 34 is licensed with the Department of Health, Bureau of EMS, meaning the fire engine is permitted to administer Advanced Life Support. Before upgrading to ALS, Station 34 crews were not able to administer aerosolized or IV-type medications or perform more invasive cardiac and airway procedures. The station is equipped with one of the most advanced cardiac monitors/defibrillators available. The Zoll ‘M’ Series offers 12-lead EKG diagnosis and capnography - a capability that often is found only in hospitals.

“Within minutes, crews will be able to determine the potential severity of heart attacks and the area of the heart that has been injured,” Whitlock said. “The equipment provides a snapshot of the injury to the heart.” Capnography continuously measures the respiratory (breathing) function. It measures the level of carbon dioxide in respiratory gases. This helps responders to determine if the patient’s airway is clear or if an endotracheal tube is placed correctly to deliver much needed oxygen to the lungs.

For more information, please contact Captain Susan Whitlock at (386) 254-4657 ext. 5347.

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