Greene County Sheriff’s Department adds Advanced Life Support squad
news@greenecountymessenger.com
The Greene County Sheriff无毛视频檚 Department recently started an Advanced Life Support (ALS) quick response squad, the first of its kind for law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
Chief Deputy Zackery Howard led the effort. Howard, who has been a paramedic since 2009 and works part time with EMS Southwest, saw a need to fill gaps in Greene无毛视频檚 emergency response services.
无毛视频淟ast year I just realized the need. EMS was just overburdened. There无毛视频檚 a very high call volume in our area,无毛视频� Howard said.
Greene County无毛视频檚 rural nature also means long response times, a concern Sheriff Marcus Simms said they have heard from residents.
无毛视频淚t kind of started with the commissioners无毛视频� town hall meetings and comments about EMS,无毛视频� Simms said.
Simms was supportive of Howard无毛视频檚 idea, but was concerned about the cost.
无毛视频淚 reached out to different local businesses. Without their support, we could have never made this happen,无毛视频� Simms said.
CNX Foundation and EQT donated a combined $46,000 for the necessary equipment, such as a machine that administers CPR for a longer period than a human can and a cardiac monitor. Both EMS Southwest and Washington Health System Greene provided medical equipment.
With the tools in place, Howard said he is able to provide potentially life-saving care while an ambulance is en route.
无毛视频淚f it无毛视频檚 on the western end of our county, I无毛视频檓 able to respond and provide care 15 to 20 minutes before EMS care gets there. Just a few minutes is a big deal,无毛视频� Howard said.
The sheriff无毛视频檚 department does not have the ability to transport patients.
Even in situations in which Howard cannot make it faster than an ambulance, the sheriff无毛视频檚 department无毛视频檚 new capabilities still free up resources for EMS.
无毛视频淭here have been a few calls where EMS was closer than I was, and I was called as more of a supportive role. So they didn无毛视频檛 have to use two ambulances. They were able to use just one and myself,无毛视频� Howard said.
One of those instances included the March 3 shooting at the Circle K in Carmichaels, in which three people were hospitalized. Five people, three of them juveniles, have been charged with attempted homicide.
无毛视频淏eing law enforcement, I无毛视频檓 able to help secure the scene and help give the initial care to the patients as well,无毛视频� Howard said.
According to Howard, many police departments provide basic life support, but ALS is new for Pennsylvania law enforcement.
无毛视频淭here are not a lot of paramedics that are also cross-certified as law enforcement officers. We hope that once we get some attention with this service, that other departments will follow,无毛视频� Howard said.