The UConn Fire Department has bolstered its paramedic service in Storrs through a new program that allows its on-duty firefighters who are licensed at the advanced life support (ALS) paramedic level with current medical control to now perform those duties.<\/p>\n
The Supplemental First Responder Mobile Intensive Care-Paramedic Program began July 1.<\/p>\n
Previously, these firefighters could perform paramedic duties only when working at the UCFD location at UConn Health in Farmington.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents, staff, faculty, and visitors at UConn Storrs have long received the highest-level of fire-based emergency care within seconds of request,\u201d says Fire Chief Chris Renshaw. \u201cOur department can now utilize its firefighters who are paramedics in Storrs to their fullest capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currently, Francesco Marotta is the only Storrs-based firefighter who is licensed as a paramedic, but there are other Farmington-based personnel who are paramedic licensed and frequently work Storrs-based shifts. They too will be able to perform ALS duties in Storrs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt any given moment, we may have up to three paramedics in Storrs who are available to respond based off of their duties and availability,\u201d says Renshaw.<\/p>\n
Paramedics are a part of the Emergency Medical System whose qualifications allow them to provide ALS measures. The first level of that system are emergency medical responders (EMRs), followed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Every member of the UConn Fire Department is certified at the EMT level, at minimum.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always wanted to have the ability to help people, and that\u2019s what drew me into being a paramedic,\u201d says Marotta. \u201cIt\u2019s a great feeling to now know that I can provide relief immediately no matter what the situation is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paramedics are often able to perform duties on-site or in the back of an ambulance that elsewise who have to wait until a patient gets to a hospital emergency room.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a student suffers a dislocated shoulder in the recreation center and we have a firefighter\/paramedic on duty in Storrs, we can now help that patient with care that would have had to wait for an off-campus paramedic or the hospital,\u201d says fire Capt. Robert Babcock.<\/p>\n
Paramedic service to Storrs was previously handled exclusively by Windham Hospital, which will remain the primary provider in Storrs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWindham Hospital remains a very important and trusted partner for us,\u201d says Renshaw. \u201cThey are the closest hospital to UConn Storrs and provide excellent care.\u201d<\/p>\n
This new arrangement will not only benefit those on campus but also will bring assurance to parents who are not with their children at the time of an emergency.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times the parents are more anxious than the students,\u201d says firefighter Glenn Watts, whose son is a UConn student. \u201cIf someone\u2019s child is sick, having a medical issue, or having an emergency, a paramedic can quickly give the parents some peace of mind. Their student might still have to be transported to a hospital, but a parent, who might be four states away, knows their child is getting immediate care and that\u2019s a massive comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUConn is a great flagship institution, and we attract the brightest and most talented student population we can,\u201d says paramedic and fire Capt. Anthony Ruggiero. \u201cWhy shouldn\u2019t we provide the highest level of prehospital care to protect them? That\u2019s what we are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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