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| Why do Fire Engines Follow Ambulances? |
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Many residents ask why fire engines follow ambulances on
emergency calls. The answer is quality of care! The Mount Prospect Fire
Department endeavors to give our residents the best care possible.
All Mount Prospect Fire Department ambulances (there are 3 frontline
ambulances and one reserve) are staffed with two firefighters/paramedics.
Each of the fire engines (at Station 12, Golf and Busse; and at Station 14,
Kensington near River Road) are staffed with at least one paramedic. The
rescue squad located at Police & Fire Headquarters (Northwest Highway) is
also equipped with at least one paramedic.
In an emergency medical incident, additional staffing may be necessary to
treat the patient and prepare him or her for transportation to the hospital.
This additional staffing enables the responding crew to simultaneously
complete different tasks for the patient’s care. By having additional
paramedics on hand, the care of the patient is improved, and the preparation
time before transportation to the hospital is shortened. The fire engine or
rescue squad often remains on the scene for assistance, but is available to
respond to another emergency if another emergency call comes in.
In the event that another call does come in and the closest ambulance to the
patient is already on call, the fire engine or rescue squad crew can respond
and begin treatment to prepare the patient for transportation before an
ambulance arrives. The paramedic on the fire engine or rescue squad is
capable of completing these tasks because of the equipment that is in place
on each fire engine and rescue squad. Every fire engine and rescue squad is
considered a Med-Engine - each is equipped with advanced life support
equipment.
For further information regarding the emergency medical services provided by
the Mount Prospect Fire Department, please contact the Fire Department at
the non-emergency number of 870-5666. |
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