285 Life Saving Awards for Cardiac Arrest given from June 1, 2011 through October 31, 2012
Newsletter Title Page 42
MEDICAL OPERATIONS
A Battalion Chief, with direct support from the Health & Safety Captain, EMS Lieutenant and three EMS Coordinators leads the Medical Operations Section, which is responsible for the Emergency Medical Services( EMS) delivery in the City. The Medical Operations Section coordinates with the City’ s Medical Director, Dr. Cynthia Simmons, and the Emergency Physicians Advisory Board to provide quality Continuing Education and EMS training to the entire department. Quality Improvement review and the development of standard operating procedures and EMS system protocols are also critical products of this section. Additionally, this specialized team is responsible for monitoring the contractual performance of the ambulance provider. Other important functions of this section include: Coordination of annual and new hire health fitness evaluations & vaccinations Ongoing point of contact for personnel who experience work-related infectious disease exposures, injuries, and illness Conducting post-injury / accident investigations Coordinating random drug and alcohol testing Ensuring coordination with the City‘ s Employee Wellness Program Conducting“ Hands-Only CPR” training for the public and City employees Managing over 358 public access automatic external defibrillators( AEDs) Auditing emergency medical treatments provided by Arlington Fire Department personnel
CyanoKits: Leading Life-Saving Treatment for Smoke Inhalation Victims
The Medical Operations Section is a leader in life saving treatment for smoke inhalation victims. All structure fires produce deadly cyanide( CN) and carbon monoxide( CO) gases due to the combustion of ordinary building and household items. Combined, these deprive the body of oxygen causing rapid death by asphyxiation. Even small fires have shown to rapidly produce deadly levels of CO and CN. Until recently, treatment for exposure to these“ toxic twins” was available in Europe, but not in the United States. This year the Arlington Fire Department began carrying CyanoKits, the life saving medication for victims of smoke inhalation. In the short time we have carried this life saving medication, the lives of two civilian fire victims have been saved.
Fiscal Year 2012 Highlights EMS CE Classes Instructed 156 EMS CE Classroom Hours 1,248 City Employees Trained in CPR 556 Total Trained in CPR 719 Public Access Defibrillators Managed 358
CyanoKits Administered and Lives Saved from Smoke Inhalation Life Saving Awards for Cardiac Arrests( June 1, 2011-Oct 31, 2012)
2 285
285 Life Saving Awards for Cardiac Arrest given from June 1, 2011 through October 31, 2012
DUTY / HONOR / COMPASSION / EXCELLENCE
Working Together to Make Arlington Better.
42