Topics
· Overview of the EMS Division
· The History of the Waukegan Fire Department
· EMS Apparatus
· Squad Back-up Procedures
· Special Teams of the WFD
· Ride Time
· Medical Control
· Policies and Procedures
· Issuing of Personal Protective Equipment
· Certifications
EMT-Basics
EMT-Paramedics
· Time Table for Paramedic Training
· Our Future - Our Goals

EMS Division
The Waukegan Fire Department has been providing Emergency Medical Services to the citizens of Waukegan since 1972. The WFD was only the second public safety agency in the State of Illinois to offer this service. The WFD had members in attendance for the first ever Paramedic class in Illinois. The WFD currently has 94 certified paramedics with a combined experience of 822 years.

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The History of the Waukegan Fire Department
In 1984, the fire administration set a goal to have all Waukegan Fire Department line personnel certified as paramedics. Those members who were certified prior to 1984 were given the opportunity to regress to the EMT-Basic certification with the Illinois Department of Public Health. All members hired on or after 1984 were and are required to certify as paramedics in accordance with the rules of the department. The EMT-Basic is trained to the same high standards of patient care as the EMT-Paramedic. The difference is in the level of authorized care that they may render. The paramedic is authorized to render advanced life support in the form of advanced pharmacology, advanced airway management, and the ability to provide manual cardiac defibrillation. All members on the department are certified in the use of AED's and trauma management.

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EMS Apparatus
The Waukegan Fire Department currently has five front-line ambulances staffed with firefighter-paramedics covering the 38 square miles that makes up the jurisdictional boundaries of our city. We have a 6th (reserve) ambulance, which is used for special events and as a spare ambulance. A seventh ambulance is being acquired to replace our oldest ambulance and should arrive in the Spring of 2003. Additionally, all emergency apparatus carry Automatic External (cardiac) Defibrillators, airway kits and trauma kits. All apparatus are staffed with firefighters and fire officers that are certified paramedics. For special community events we deploy 2 person bike medics that carry all the necessary equipment for ALS care. The bike units carry a designation of ALS unit and is certified by the IDPH the same as an ambulance.

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Squad Back-up Procedures
The Waukegan Fire Department uses a stair-step response system that is designed to send the closest piece of emergency apparatus to the scene of the call. When a request is made for emergency medical personnel, a fire engine or fire truck might be the first unit at the scene with an ambulance close behind which will provide transport to a local area hospital and offers the Mobile Intensive Care Unite (MICU) environment.

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Special Teams of the WFD
The EMS Division permeates all aspects of the Waukegan Fire Department. The WFD members make up the various Special Teams that handle day-to-day incident procedures. Whether an incident is related to water rescue, underwater rescue, bomb incidents, aviation situations, mass casualty incidents, trench or structural collapse or firefighting incidents, paramedics are on the scene and involved with the incident and are available at all times for the emergency medical needs of our community and for the rescue teams.

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Ride Time
It's common to have Doctors, Nurses, other health care workers and Paramedic and EMT students from other systems ride with Waukegan Rescue Units. Waukegan is viewed as a department dealing with complex medical cases, in the field, and the department is seen as one of the best training grounds for learning more about fieldwork. The Fire Chief's office and the Director's office of EMS has authorized these individuals to "ride along" with Paramedics as observers to gain the valuable insight into the work our Paramedics perform on a daily basis. The WFD in conjunction with local colleges and universities offers a unique internship program for students working toward their various medical and health care degrees.

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Medical Control
The Waukegan Fire Department is under the medical direction of the North Lake County Emergency Medical System (Vista Health Care) based at Victory Memorial Hospital in Waukegan. The EMS resource hospital for the WFD is Victory Memorial Hospital.
Other hospitals associated with the North Lake County System may be contacted as a resource hospital in the event of high call volume, the location of the incident or in the event that a local hospital is not able to be contacted.
 

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Policies and Procedures
In conjunction with Waukegan Fire Department Policies and North Lake County EMS Policies, the Waukegan EMS system is managed by a comprehensive set of procedures that maintain a professional level of maintenance, coordination and ongoing education for the members of the department. Waukegan Paramedics and EMTs are all held accountable to the policies and department management oversees that each member adheres to the rules for practicing Emergency Medicine.

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Issuing of Personal Protective Equipment
Because of the increase of diseases and unknown pathogens (germs) that continue to be discovered, the EMS Division issues to each member, protective equipment to reduce the potential for contact with these diseases. Protective eyewear, equipment holsters and all necessary barrier devices are issued and used by first responders of the WFD.

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Certifications
EMT-Basics - All members of the Waukegan Fire Department are Emergency Medical Technicians. Many of the older members who were hired before 1985 have been allowed to revert back to EMT Basics from Paramedics as a condition of department policies. Those hired after 1985 are required to maintain their Paramedic certification.

EMT-Paramedics - Most members of the Waukegan Fire department are EMT-Paramedics. All new members of the department are required to become Paramedics within their third year of employment. This is a condition of continuous employment with the department. A department rule that has changed in the last year is that all new members testing for hire will be required to have already obtained their EMT-Paramedic certification with IDPH prior to testing.

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Time Table for Paramedic Training
As the Emergency medical profession continues to grow and expand, so has the degree of training required by new Paramedics and currently certified Paramedics. The IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) is expanding the Paramedic program from a 6 month program to a 2 year degree program. As new members become Paramedics, their level of training will increase dramatically. Meanwhile, those currently certified will receive commiserate training which will be parallel with the new Paramedic curriculum. The WFD EMS Division is committed to these changes and values the increased knowledge base for our members.
The many areas of study include:
· Medical/ Legal Considerations
· Stress management
· Anatomy and Physiology
· Pathophysiology of Shock
· Trauma, Burns
· Respiratory, Endocrine, Nervous System Emergencies
· Cardiovascular disorders and management
· Electrophysiology of the Heart
· Toxicology, Chemical, radiation injuries
· Infectious diseases
· Geriatrics/ Gerontology, Pediatrics, OB/ GYN/ Neonatal care

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Our Future - Our Goals
As expectations within the Emergency Medical Services Profession increase and greater demands are placed on the practitioners, the WFD EMS Division will maintain and exceed the standards through an ongoing comprehensive training and education program. The WFD is currently making the transition to the use of 12-lead EKG (Electrocardiogram) equipment for patient diagnosis in the field. The concept of "customer service" practiced by our EMS personnel and will continue to gain the support and accolades of the community and patients we care for. The EMS industry recognizes the extended care that's needed by family members and friends of the patients cared for and the WFD will provide the extended support needed to care for these individuals.
The WFD has implemented the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996) within our department. This is a Federal Regulation which requires all health care providers to maintain a system of practices and policies safeguarding the (PHI) private health information of the patients we treat and transport. The Privacy Officer for the Waukegan Fire Department is Lt. David Paff.

Automobile accident on the Amstutz. Flight for Life is on standby at the scene.