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December 21, 2005
Shelley Szafraniec
Community Information Specialist

COUNTY UPGRADES DAYTONA BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FIRE STATION TO ALS

The Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA) fire station now offers Advanced Life Support (ALS) as a part of its emergency medical services. Volusia County Fire Station 17 was upgraded from Basic Life Support (BLS) to ALS December 19.

Over the last five years, the County has more than tripled the number of its ALS fire stations, according to Fire Chief Jim Tauber. Sixteen of the agency’s 23 stations are licensed by the state to provide Advanced Life Support by paramedic firefighters.

Volusia County Fire Station 17, 2316 Bellevue Ave., Daytona Beach, is on the south side of the Daytona Beach International Airport property. The station provides aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) services to DBIA and fire-rescue and EMS services in the unincorporated areas adjacent to the airport with a structural fire-rescue engine.

“Numerous motor vehicle crashes occur on I-95, I-4, and other busy highways that are served by the station,” said County Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Plummer. “With ALS now available, the responding crews can begin administering advanced levels of care, right away. That really can make a difference with traumatic injuries.”

The upgrade to ALS means the structural engine will be staffed 24 hours a day with a paramedic and two emergency medical technicians (EMT). Paramedics can provide advanced cardiac and respiratory care, involving the use of special diagnostic equipment and the delivery of certain medications. It also means other advanced medical procedures may be provided to patients, including those suffering traumatic injuries.

Volusia County Fire Services’ Station 17 is licensed with the Department of Health, Bureau of EMS, meaning the fire engine is permitted to administer Advanced Life Support. Before upgrading to ALS, Station 17 crews were not able to administer aerosolized or IV-type medications or perform more invasive cardiac and airway procedures, Plummer said. The station is equipped with one of the most advanced cardiac monitors/defibrillators available. The Zoll ‘M’ Series offers 12-lead EKG diagnosis and capnography - a capability that is often found only in hospitals. Capnography continuously measures the respiratory (breathing) function. It measures the level of carbon dioxide in respiratory gases. This helps responders to determine if the patient’s airway is clear or if an endotracheal tube is placed correctly to deliver much needed oxygen to the lungs.

For more information, please contact Captain Susan Whitlock at (386) 254-4657 ext. 5347, or Deputy Chief Stephen Plummer at (386) 736-5940 ext. 2909.

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