Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, Third Edition
Chapter 24: Fire and Emergency Medical Care
Chief Concepts
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EMS is an important component in the fire department’s mission of saving lives and
protecting property.
In some fire departments, more than 80 percent of all emergency calls are requests for
medical services. Many fire departments have added “EMS” or “Rescue” to their names
to reflect this change.
Most fire departments provide some level of EMS, although the degree of involvement
varies.
The two levels of EMS are BLS and ALS.
BLS skills include the following:
• Scene control
• Evaluating conditions for responder and victim safety
• Patient assessment
• Basic airway management techniques
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Providing basic care for medical emergencies
• Administering oxygen
• Splinting
• Controlling external bleeding and bandaging
• Treating for shock
• Lifting and moving patients
• Transporting patients to an appropriate medical facility
ALS skills include the following:
• Advanced airway management techniques
• Administering intravenous fluids to treat shock
• Administering medications for various conditions
• Monitoring and interpreting heart rhythms
• Electrically pacing the heart
• Defibrillating the heart
• Removing trapped air from the chest
The two types of BLS providers are the EMR and the EMT.
The two types of ALS providers are the Paramedic and the AEMT.
EMS training may be offered through a fire-training academy, a community college, a
vocational training center, or a hospital.
To keep up with changes in the EMS field, EMS providers must attend continuing
education classes.
Emergency medical services can be delivered in several ways, from fire departments to
EMS departments to hospitals to private companies. Local and state government officials
decide which agency will handle EMS care in the community.
In a combination EMS system, the fire department provides medical first response and
another agency operates the ambulances that transport the patients. The EMS first
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response services may be part of an engine or truck company’s responsibility, or they
may be provided by a special EMS unit.
Fire department EMS systems both provide the medical first response and transport
patients.
EMS providers inevitably interact with a wide range of citizens. Do your best to provide
prompt, efficient, competent care for all members of your community.
A good working relationship between EMS providers and other members of the
healthcare team, such as hospital staff, helps ensure high-quality patient care.
Consider all information about the patient’s circumstances, history, assessment findings,
and care to be confidential.
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