Ware County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) has highly trained EMS professionals that are there to respond when needed.
The EMS system has really advanced over the last 33 years. In the late seventies only Ware County had Basic Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) that had limited training and equipment to respond to sick and injured individuals.
Over the years that has changed not only on the local level but the national level. The two levels of EMS certification in most communities consists of Basic EMT Intermediates (EMT-I) and Paramedics.
The EMT-I can perform manual maneuvers to open and control the airway, administer oxygen, ventilation management, performing patient assessment, obtaining vital signs, peripheral intravenous insertion and maintenance, intraosseus device insertion, administration of hypertonic dextrose solutions for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
The Paramedic can perform manual maneuvers to open and control the airway, administer oxygen, ventilation management, performing patient assessment, obtaining vital signs, peripheral intravenous insertion and maintenance, intraosseous device insertion, administration of hypertonic dextrose solutions for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), endotracheal intubation (emergency advanced airway), percutaneous cricothyrotomy (emergency airway procedure), pleural chest decompression (emergency procedure for collapsed lungs), administration of physician approved emergency cardiac and breathing medications, electrocardiogram monitoring and interpretation (heart rhythm & rate), manual cardiac defibrillation, cardioversion, etc. Pre-hospital care is improving more and more every day.
Ware County EMS is going to wind down the week with an EMS Day event, which will be held at The Mall at Waycross Saturday May 21, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. If you happen to see an EMS professional this week thank them and let them know that they are appreciated.
05-20-11
11:15 hrs