The San Bernardino County Fire Department’s emergency medical personnel went out on 29,814 medical calls in 2007, easily making them the busiest of all County Fire first-responders.

At present, County Fire’s EMS Division trains or maintains certification for about 450 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and 150 medical first-responders, who learn Basic Life Support (BLS) skills, and about 125 paramedics, who learn and maintain Advanced Life Support (ALS) skills. The EMTs and paramedics represent seven ambulance and medical transport entities within County Fire.

The EMS group provides ALS ambulance transport in County Fire’s Mountain, North Desert and South Desert Divisions. In the Valley Division and for some other jurisdictions, County Fire provides BLS response and maintains automatic defibrillator services in 32 stations, with a total of 52 units in service.

Attaining EMT status requires a rigorous program of classroom education, skills training and hands-on experience. Reaching paramedic status requires even more rigorous education, training and real world experience, and must be maintained with refresher training documented every two years.

An EMT is authorized to assess a patient’s vital signs, administer oxygen, operate automatic defibrillation equipment to control heartbeat, deliver babies, administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, splint fractures and dislocations, give first aid for bleeding and shock, and use long- and short-board devices. Long boards are used to carry a patient to an ambulance. Short board devices are used to extricate victims from vehicles in accident situations, and in other situations where space is limited.

To become a paramedic, a fully qualified EMT learns additional skills, such as starting intravenous injections and administering pain medications and drugs that assist and control heart function in emergencies. A paramedic candidate must also complete classroom education, training and assessments under the supervision of qualified paramedics. Once all program requirements are met, the candidate becomes licensed as a paramedic and receives local accreditation.

The EMS section conducts training and monitors the progress of applications EMT and paramedic permits and licenses, assuring that the highest standards are applied. In addition, the section monitors the maintenance of licenses/accreditations/certifications and permits for medical first-responders, EMTs and paramedics.