At any given time during the day or night, we can be called into service to respond to an emergency alarm. The rescue crew heads out the door for an automobile accident that just occurred. The crew arrives to find a person badly injured and immediately takes action. They stabilize the patient, treat their injuries and prepare them for transport to the hospital all in a matter of minutes.
Meanwhile, several engines and another rescue crew respond to a fire alarm at a business. The fire fighters ‘suit up’ in protective clothing and breathing apparatus and are ready to extinguish the fire. Time is critical at any fire; there is a lot to do and only minutes in which to do it. We all have our assigned tasks which are performed in well-organized team fashion; rescue and life-safety are always 1st priority.
Over the course of a typical shift, we handle many medical emergencies. We dispatch an engine and a rescue crew from the closest respective station. In most cases, the engineer on an engine is closer to the scene of an emergency than the rescue crews and will arrive at the scene first. All Waterford fire fighters are highly trained and experienced in emergency medicine. The engineer can begin to stabilize a patient prior to the arrival of the paramedics on the rescue truck. Once the paramedics arrive they assume medical treatment and intervene with advanced life support techniques. Our EMS program has been recognized as one of the best in Oakland County, an honor in which we take great pride. We regularly deal with people having breathing problems, heart attacks, diabetic emergencies, traumatic injuries, and seizures. We have responded to emergencies where people have drowned, been shot or stabbed, electrocuted and burned. We have delivered babies, prevented people from committing suicide and rescued people that have fallen through the ice on a frozen lake. We have responded to nearly every type of emergency.
Between calls we spend several hours training. We receive training on new medical techniques, emergency drugs and new equipment. We are also trained on fire fighting tactics, emergency scenarios, handling hazardous materials, vehicle extrication, aircraft emergencies, railroad emergencies, water rescue and stress management. Everyone is also required to attend EMS continuing education. Every 3 years we are required to renew our emergency medical licenses. This is accomplished by continuing education classes approved by the State of Michigan.
During the time we are not training or responding to alarms, we conduct fire safety inspections of local businesses. Inspections are an important function of the Department, helping business owners correct hazards that could result in a fire. We then document our findings, take notes and create floor plan drawings of the businesses we have inspected in the event of a fire.