Telemedicine Story: Efficient EMS communication

The Naperville Fire Department has a lot on their plates. With almost 148,000 residents to protect, this fire department needs not one, not two…but ten station houses to be adequately prepared for whatever emergencies may arise.

Those emergencies are not just these “I forgot to unplug the curling iron” or “I wasn’t supposed to fry the turkey in THAT much oil?!” Naperville firefighters are trained in both fire suppression/prevention and emergency medical treatment.

While many people still see two very different mental images when they hear the words “firefighter” and “EMS,” Fire EMS is actually becoming quite common. In communities with populations of 100,000 or more, almost 97% of US fire departments provide some level of EMS (Dean & Messoline, 2011). And it makes sense, doesn’t it? Why wouldn’t you want a firefighter arriving at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or a burning building to be trained in life-saving techniques?

In September of 1966, The National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council was quoted as saying, “The reality today is that the fire service has become the first-line medical responder for critical illness and injury in virtually every community in America.” Over half a century later, this statement rings truer than ever. In Naperville and elsewhere across the country, when 911 call come in, firefighters are ready to respond to the call, no matter what they may entail.

In communities like Naperville, answering those calls has recently become a lot more streamlined, with the help of GD e-Bridge. With a team of 205 first responders, any number of which are en route to a scene at any given time of the day or night, the town needed a single line of reliable communication between rigs to overcome time delays, prevent miscommunication, and provide faster treatment times for patients. With GD e-Bridge, the entire team, all 10 houses- all 205 members, can be connected at once, no matter where they are or how many calls they are responding to simultaneously. They know where each rig is headed, have clear patient history and stats at the touch of a screen, and can communicate as a single unit, via voice or text. They can advise each other, compare data, and assist remotely as needed. The value of these features is beyond description in an emergency, fire-related or otherwise.

Naperville’s 148,000 residents can rest easy knowing their fire department has a proven, multi-faceted system at the ready. When that 911 call comes in, no matter what it entails, Naperville’s Fire EMS and GD e-Bridge will be ready.

About GD (General Devices)
GD enables smarter patient care by empowering hospitals, EMS, community healthcare and public safety with the most comprehensive, interactive, configurable, affordable, and integrated FDA listed medical communication and mobile telemedicine solutions. The benefits of which are enhanced workflows, minimized risk, reduced costs and improved patient outcomes. Learn more at www.general-devices.com.