Firefighters give inside look at emergency response

Longboat Key Fire Rescue gave the public a behind-the-scenes look at how the department handles emergencies at a March 31 open house held at the north station.

But in an emergency, the public shouldn’t head to the fire station — they should dial 911.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi estimates that 30 times a year, a resident shows up at one of the department’s two stations needing medical treatment. Or, they dial the stations’ backdoor lines. Both moves can cost valuable minutes in an emergency.

“A lot of times, what we hear is, ‘We don’t want to bother you,’” Dezzi said. “We want them to bother us.”

Here’s the 411 on 911, according to Dezzi: When you dial the number, the dispatcher can automatically see the caller’s location and asks for the address for verification purposes. If you call the seven-digit number, firefighter/paramedics have to write down the caller’s contact information, and, then, dial 911, which can add four or five minutes to response time. In some cases, firefighter/paramedics are out on another call and can’t be reached through the back line.

And here’s who arrives when you dial 911 for a fire or medical emergency: Longboat Key Fire Rescue has 33 line personnel, 32 of whom are paramedics — meaning that they can provide services such as administering medication, airway management and defibrillation. Although they also fight fires, 88% of their calls are for medical emergencies. They’ll arrive with medication that can treat just about any medical emergency — from allergic reaction to cardiac problems to childbirth.
Other things to know about 911:

• Calling doesn’t mean you’ll have to go to the hospital. In cases involving falls or injuries, firefighter/paramedics offer patients the choice of whether they want to be transported to the hospital, although they’ll usually recommend it for the best treatment.

• A fire truck and ambulance automatically respond to calls involving respiratory and cardiac issues, chest pain and falls, with one unit returning to the station if necessary. In many cases, the additional units are necessary because firefighter/paramedics have to transport patients in stretchers up-and-down stairwells when there isn’t enough room in elevators.

• Firefighter/paramedics electronically fill out an information sheet that goes to Town Hall, which is then sent to the patient to fill out with Medicare, Medicaid or insurance information.

• Residents shouldn’t be hesitant to call 911, according to Dezzi. A severe headache could be a sign of stroke, while minor chest pains could be a heart-attack sign — and, in both cases, it’s important to call sooner rather than later.
“The chances of saving someone early on are much greater,” Dezzi said.