- Home
- City Government
- Departments
- Fire
- Operations
- Emergency Medical Service
Emergency Medical Service
In partnership with American Medical Response, the Blount County ambulance provider, the Alcoa Fire Department (AFD) utilizes a First Responder program to provide medical treatment inside the City of Alcoa (COA).
AFD provides Basic Life Support (BLS) responding from three stations. All personnel are required to be trained at a minimum of Emergency Medical Technician (EMTB) - Basic level with the department having 18 personnel trained at the Advanced EMT (AEMT) and one Paramedic (EMTP). We also have nine American Heart Association certified Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)/First Aid/BLS instructors.
If a citizen or visitor experiences a medical emergency, trauma or motor vehicle accident, the nearest fire company is dispatched to the scene. The responding fire company will respond with a minimum two EMTs, one of which will be an AEMT or EMTP. Once on scene, we will begin incident scene stabilization, patient assessment, treatment of the current illness or injury and begin to prepare for patient transport to an emergency facility.
Some wonder why a fire engine or ladder company responds to a medical emergency? The answer is, most of the time we are much closer to the call than the ambulance. Our expedient response will facilitate a much faster treatment time, thus provide a better outcome for the patient. We begin the assessment and treatment process, and then the EMTPs from AMR continue the process.
In 2020, AFD responded to over 1.488 EMS/rescue calls inside the COA. As with many departments across the country, EMS accounts for the majority of our call volume. To serve the citizens and visitors to the COA, we have identified EMS as the primary call for service and have placed an emphasis on service delivery and training. In cooperation with AMR, the men and women of AFD spend many hours training on procedures, protocol, assessment and treatment. It is our goal to provide the best, most up to date service possible to our citizens and visitors.
Services Provided
AFD provides Basic Life Support (BLS) responding from three stations. All personnel are required to be trained at a minimum of Emergency Medical Technician (EMTB) - Basic level with the department having 18 personnel trained at the Advanced EMT (AEMT) and one Paramedic (EMTP). We also have nine American Heart Association certified Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)/First Aid/BLS instructors.
What the First Responders Do
If a citizen or visitor experiences a medical emergency, trauma or motor vehicle accident, the nearest fire company is dispatched to the scene. The responding fire company will respond with a minimum two EMTs, one of which will be an AEMT or EMTP. Once on scene, we will begin incident scene stabilization, patient assessment, treatment of the current illness or injury and begin to prepare for patient transport to an emergency facility.
Some wonder why a fire engine or ladder company responds to a medical emergency? The answer is, most of the time we are much closer to the call than the ambulance. Our expedient response will facilitate a much faster treatment time, thus provide a better outcome for the patient. We begin the assessment and treatment process, and then the EMTPs from AMR continue the process.
Partnership & Community Service
In 2020, AFD responded to over 1.488 EMS/rescue calls inside the COA. As with many departments across the country, EMS accounts for the majority of our call volume. To serve the citizens and visitors to the COA, we have identified EMS as the primary call for service and have placed an emphasis on service delivery and training. In cooperation with AMR, the men and women of AFD spend many hours training on procedures, protocol, assessment and treatment. It is our goal to provide the best, most up to date service possible to our citizens and visitors.