NORWOOD — Chief David Hayes is pleased to announce that the Norwood Fire Department has recently strengthened its EMS operations and begun offering Advanced Life Support (ALS) services on both of its ambulances.
On Aug. 8, the department began operating its second ambulance at the ALS level, a shift that has been a work in progress for several years. As the previous deputy chief, Chief Hayes assisted former Chief George Morrice in working to establish the operational details of the transition, and continued this process following Chief Morrice’s retirement.
Following agreement by both the town and Norwood Firefighters union, the operational plan was reviewed by Medical Director Dr. Michael Valkanas as well as the state Office of Emergency Medical Services. The additional required equipment and medication for ALS care was also purchased and stocked.
Additionally as part of the transition, the town and union leadership agreed to an enhanced field training process that exceeds state mandates. All new paramedic employees of Norwood Fire, regardless of past experience, will complete a field training process that is between 30 days and one year based on the individual’s performance. Authorization to serve as a full paramedic within the Norwood Fire Department already requires review of all patient care reports during the training period, recommendation of the department’s EMS coordinators, approval of the medical director and final approval by the fire chief, in addition to the required state and national certifications.
In the few weeks since the transition, the department has seen an expected reduction in mutual aid requests for ALS care. However, the region’s extensive mutual aid system will still be an asset to the department in situations where Norwood Fire is called to three or more simultaneous medical responses. In these situations, the department sends fire apparatus as part of the initial response to meet the mutual aid ambulance, and all Norwood firefighters are trained to the EMT-basic level, at minimum, so patient care begins upon crew arrival and continues unabated until arrival at a hospital.
“We are always looking for opportunities to add capabilities and enhance the services we can offer our community, so this is a tremendous move forward for the department, and is something our past chiefs have been working toward for several years,” Chief Hayes said. “With this change, the people who live and work in Norwood are receiving the best care possible in the shortest time possible. I would also like to commend EMS Coordinators Michael Chisholm and Kevin Morrissey, who were instrumental in the preparation for and success of this transition.”
The department will continue to review its operations, and hopes to add advanced life support level equipment to fire apparatus in the future as well.
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