Fire Rescue emergency medical calls increase 12.6%

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi provided a fire department call summary for the first six months of the year that shows emergency medical service (EMS) calls increased 12.6% for the first six months of 2013 when compared to a year ago.

Statistics revealed that 79% of the fire department’s calls were for EMS calls.

The department transported 55% of patients seen to area hospitals, with Sarasota Memorial Hospital receiving 84% of the patients. Blake Medical Center in Bradenton received 13% of the patients seen.

Patient treatment is categorized by either advanced medical care or basic medical care. Of those patients transported to a hospital in the first six months of the year, 60% received advanced medical care.
February was the fire department’s busiest month for the first six months of the year, with June being the least busy month.

The department treated three major trauma patients, five major cardiac emergencies and six major stroke emergencies.

The department had a decrease in fire call activity during the time period, which Dezzi credits to his department’s continued fire prevention by all personnel through fire inspections.

The department reported a fire loss of $741,500 during the time period that included two boat fires, five structure fires and three vehicle fires.

In total, the department had a 5% increase in total call volume for the first six months of 2013.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].