First Responder FF not Qualified to Provide Care

[MedicPrincess]

This is the town neighboring mine.....

Medical Duties Could Resume for Florida Firefighters

Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach) (KRT)
via NewsEdge Corporation

Dec. 19--VALPARAISO -- Volunteer city firefighters who were -- and then weren't -- employed as medical first responders could be working in that capacity again sometime in January.

...............................

The most vocal of the critics -- Commissioner Robert Billingsley -- thoroughly questioned Fire Chief Charlie Frank last week at the city commission's monthly meeting. His concerns: Whether the city had the authority to provide first-response care and whether first responders would be insured.

"I'm not confident with a volunteer who takes training and is part of some bigger pic- ture ... to respond to something that is not fighting a fire," Billingsley said at the meeting

Read here...

http://www.emsresponder.com/features/article.jsp?siteSection=18&id=2645

 

[hfdff422]

In my county, MFR's are technically not allowed to do much more than BCLS until and EMT-B or higher is on scene to direct them. But, BCLS is the most time critical portion of the MFR and EMT's job. If the AED can be attached 3-5 minutes earlier that could mean up to a 50% greater chance of survival form a V-tach or V-fib situation. I wonder how the people of the community feel about having emergency care there sooner?