Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services Administrator
The start of 2021 began with an increase in COVID patient transports reaching new peaks in January that were eclipsed in December. Our First Responders and their families also fell victim to COVID. In December 17 line personnel were off work due to COVID and nearly half of Orland's 120 Paramedics were on Quarantine and watch lists in December. Demand for medical services increased by approximately 10% in 2021. Our Paramedics met the challenge as they utilized their training, equipment and experience developed in 2020 and years prior. As we look ahead we have hope for some normalcy however different it may look than years past. Whatever we are confronted with you can be assured we will continue to prepare and adapt to any situation we are called for.
Lieutenant Mark Duke
This collection of equipment are what the Paramedics utilize during initial patient contact while determining the severity of the patient illness. Much useful information can be gathered with these tools along with the patients' description of their problem and a medical history. Concurrently with a visual impression and after masking themselves and the patient the Paramedic can obtain respiratory rate, lungs sounds and an oxygen level in the blood by use of the stethoscope and pulse oximeter. The blood pressure and pulse rate can be obtained with the BP Cuff and Pulse Oximeter. Additionally the patients' temperature can be obtained with the touchless thermometer. The items are not high tech but still valuable and necessary to conduct a patient assessment:
Blood Pressure Cuff
Stethoscope
Pulse Oximeter
New Ambulance #5 After some delays in delivery the new ambulance arrived and was delivered to Station #5. The ambulance fleet consists of one ambulance at each of the 6 fire stations and 2 reserve ambulances that fill in if there is preventative maintenance required or a break down. This plan ensures that an ambulance will always be ready and available to respond. Increase in call volume that leads to increased mileage may require modification of the annual purchase plan.
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Patient Mask & Gloves Touchless Thermometer
