Longboaters lend hands to 'push in' for new fleet addition

With a hearty collective push, community and fire crew members drove one of the newest additions to the fleet into the bay at Station 92. The ceremonial launch of the paramedic vehicle was a highlight of this year's open house hosted by the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department.

The March 25 event invited members of the public to see inside the facility, which officially opened in 2021. Chief Paul Dezzi took particular pride in showing tour groups how the building design helps firefighters avoid tracking carcinogenic contaminants through the station.

"What we've done today is special, because not only is this the first open house for this fire station, but it's the pushing in of the new fire apparatus," Dezzi said.

He explained that this tradition symbolizes the united effort of the entire community in its protection. Once the vehicle is in the bay, it's officially ready to respond to emergencies.

Families especially enjoyed the glimpse into firehouse operations that day. Children excitedly showed off their iconic red firefighter helmets, explored the big rigs and enjoyed complimentary hot dogs.

Two-year-old Apollo Plashkes, attending with father Simon Plashkes, demonstrated his in-depth knowledge of fire alarms and how they function. 

Apollo quietly but confidently answered, "Go outside" when prompted by the question, "What do you do when a fire alarm goes off?"

Representatives of Sarasota Doctors Hospital provided attendees with free first aid kits and an opportunity to practice their skills with hands-only CPR.

"Hands only" refers to evolution in best practices for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In the past, experts recommended alternating between chest compressions and giving breaths. 

But now, as emergency services manager Dana Szalbirak explained, experts know it is more important to keep up consistent compressions while awaiting responders. One of the go-to songs she recommends to help people keep a steady rhythm is "Staying Alive."

Practices differ slightly depending on a person's age. For anyone seeking more in-depth training, the fire department is hosting free trainings on April 17 and 30, May 15 and 28, June 18, July 16 and Aug. 13. Registration is required.

Responders also offered demonstrations of how to pack a wound and other knowledge useful in an emergency.

Dezzi offered a tour of the station's new $600,000 ambulance.

Events like the recent rooftop fire on St. Armands Circle highlight the need for the department to be outfitted for any crisis, as Dezzi noted their team was the first on the scene for the multi-departmental response.

"This is a rolling emergency room — that's what this is," he said while sitting in the new ambulance, pointing out the high-tech comms equipment and other resources. "This is going to make a real difference in what we do here."

First responders need to be prepared for any emergency, especially when based in a small island community. He noted the advantages of team members being fully trained as paramedics and firefighters, who can staff any rig.

The vehicle's equipment includes a state-of-the-art heart monitor and a hydraulic stretcher, protecting responders' long-term health by reducing the strain of manually lifting heavy equipment.

The department also recently added a pumper truck to its fleet. It plans to cycle out older vehicles later this year, as the chief noted, front-line trucks typically start to wear out after seven years of heavy use.

Dezzi thanked everyone who turned out to learn more about the station's operations, with an even greater attendance than he expected.