The Reno Fire Department has received new advanced lifesaving equipment, and is expanding their single role paramedic program to provide advanced level service to the community.
There are three levels of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) out in the field, the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) basic, the intermediate or advanced level, and the paramedic level.
The paramedic level is the topmost advanced level they can provide in the field, and now 100% of their rigs will be able to provide this top level of service.
“Not every call is life threatening, but people can be suffering and need paramedic assistance," said Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran. "For example pain medication: you break a bone that’s not necessarily a life-threatening injury, but there is a citizen suffering and we can provide pain medication to relieve that suffering.”
With the new equipment, they can do more in the field. The rigs now have access to new Advanced Life Support (ALS) monitors, advanced airway tools, and higher level drugs that they can administer when needed.
“It used to be that you were kind of hit and miss, and also some functional limits on who could respond," Reno Vice-Mayor and City Councilmember Devon Reese said. "Now every rig is rolling out with the right kind of people with the right kind of skill set to do the kind of things that will keep people safe.”
The goal is to get the right resources to the right place at the right time, and the new equipment will help them provide the highest level of services at all times.
“In the past, every rig provided at least intermediate level service, but on any given day there might be an intermediate level rig that had a paramedic on it that didn’t have the tools," said Cochran. "Now that’s not the case, every rig has the tools, so they can provide the service 100% of the time there’s a paramedic on that rig.”
Last year they ran over 50,000 calls which is a huge number for our area.
“We want to make sure our citizens are safe, and when they call 911 that they know help is on the way and it’s the right kind of help," he said.
The Reno Fire Department is also still recruiting and hiring paramedics. Those interested in applying can do so here: https://www.reno.gov/government/departments/fire-department
