CANTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Emergency
Medical Services
“Your safety is our mission”
The Emergency Medical Services Division conducted ongoing education training to all of our first response personnel and developed a continuous quality assurance program to assure the highest quality of patient care. We performed regular inspections and maintenance on the 15 Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s) located in all public buildings including the town hall, recreation facilities, senior center, library, police station and all public schools.
FF/Paramedic Jamie Meier
EMS CoordinatorPhone: 781-575-6654 ext 105
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm
Jamie was appointed as Canton’s first EMS Coordinator in 2011. He is tasked with handling all aspects of canton fire departments emergency medical services. More than two-thirds of canton fire departments emergency calls are medical calls.
Total medical calls for 2012:
BLS calls: 1,311
ALS calls: 717
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and EMT-paramedics are trained to provide medical care to people who have suffered from an illness or an injury outside of the hospital setting. EMTs and paramedics work under protocols approved by a physician medical director to recognize, assess, and manage medical emergencies and transport patients to definitive medical care. EMTs provide basic life support, and EMT-paramedics provide advanced life support.
EMTs must be proficient in First-Aid, and training is centered on recognizing and treating life-threatening emergencies outside the hospital environment. EMTs learn the basics of how to handle cardiac and respiratory arrest, heart attacks, seizures, diabetic emergencies, respiratory problems, and other medical emergencies. They also learn how to manage traumatic injuries such as falls, fractures, lacerations, and burns. EMTs also are introduced into patient assessment, history taking, and vital signs.
EMTs perform CPR, artificial ventilations, oxygen administration, basic airway management, defibrillation using an AED, spinal immobilization, vital signs, bandaging/splinting, and may administer Nitroglycerin, Glucose, Epinepherine, and Albuterol in special circumstances.
EMT-paramedics perform all of the skills performed by an EMT-Basic. In addition, they perform advance airway management, such as endotracheal intubation. They obtain electrocardiographs (ECGs), introduce intravenous lines, and administer numerous emergency medications. EMT-paramedics assess ECG tracings and defibrillate. They have extensive training in patient assessment and are exposed to a variety of clinical experiences during training.Becoming an EMT
EMT training is offered at community colleges, technical schools, hospitals, and universities and EMS, fire, and police academies. Those interested in EMT training should contact their state’s EMS Office. Those interested in paramedic training should contact the Committee on Accreditation for EMS Professionals. Both of these agencies can help potential students find local training.
EMT training varies from 2 to 6 months, depending on the training site and hours of class scheduled per week. There are training programs that have class every day for several months for those interested in quick completion. Longer programs are available to accommodate students who have family, a full-time job, or other responsibilities that limit their available time for education. Approximate training requirements are:
Emergency Medical Responder 40 hours of training
- EMT 110 hours of training
- Advanced EMT 200-400 hours of training
- Paramedic 1,000 or more hours of training
Prerequisites: An EMT student is expected to be a high school graduate or the equivalent and to meet the physical and mental demands of the occupation. EMT-paramedic students must have completed their EMT training prior to enrollment in most EMT-paramedic courses unless they are enrolled in a joint EMT and paramedic program. Some paramedic programs are part of Bachelor of Science degree programs offered at colleges and universities.
Curriculum: EMT and Paramedic training are composed of in-classroom, didactic instruction; in-hospital clinical practice; and a supervised field internship on an ambulance. Courses typically are competency-based and supported by performance assessments. Instruction provides students with knowledge of acute and critical changes in physiology and psychological and clinical symptoms that they might encounter in an emergency medical situation.Carbon Monoxide
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
- (Victims may experience only a few of these symptoms or none at all)
- Headaches - Loss of muscle control
- Dizziness - Irritability
- Confusion - Visual disturbances
- Drowsiness - Tightening of the chest
- Weakness - Cherry red skin
- Nausea - Flu like symptoms
- Fluttering of the heart
- Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to unconsciousness, brain damage
or death.
- If you believe you have carbon monoxide poisoning or your detector continuously
goes off dial 911 immediately and leave your residence (outside for fresh air is best).How do I know if there is Carbon Monoxide in my house?
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas. You should have
Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home to warn you. CO detectors are
inexpensive and usually run you about 20$ to 50$.Carbon Monoxide can be produced in your house from:
- Malfunctioning heating system
- Lack of heating equipment ventilation
- Fuel burning engines (lawn mowers, generators)
- Leaving your vehicle running for an extended period of time in the garage or next to an open window or door.
- Gas or fuel burning appliances such as stoves and driers
- Charcoal or gas grills, cigarettes.
Make sure to get your flu vaccine this winter. Below are some links that will provide you with information on the flu including symptoms, how its spread, and how it’s treated.
Public Health Fact Sheet - Flu
The Official Website of the Executive Office of Health and Human ServicesWhen should you go to the emergency room?
Diseases and health conditions:
The Official Website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Health & Safetly
Pandemic Flu Planning:
The Official Website of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
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