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November 23, 2008

Technology & Manpower
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TECHNOLOGY AND MANPOWER

Strongsville Fire & Emergency Services has provided paramedic level advanced life support services since 1976, when two Strongsville Firefighters were among the first in Ohio to complete paramedic training. The field of emergency medical services was in the very early stages of development, and the Strongsville Fire & Emergency Services Department has both grown and contributed to modern-day fire department EMS systems.

Strongsville Fire & Emergency Services has enjoyed the full support of both city and department administrators while developing a highly skilled and respected EMS division. Strongsville Paramedics serve as advisors on numerous local and area-wide EMS committees, and an impressive number of department paramedics hold instructor level certification in such diverse areas as Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Several members hold state certification at the level of paramedic instructor and participate in paramedic level training throughout Northeastern Ohio. Strongsville Fire & Emergency Services is designated as a clinical site for paramedic training programs conducted by Parma Community Hospital, Southwest General Health Center, and Cuyahoga Community College.

Strongsville Fire & Emergency Services Paramedics use state-of-the-art cardiac monitors that permit acquisition of 12-Lead Electrocardiograms in a prehospital setting. The monitors allow paramedics to transmit a diagnostic quality 12-Lead EKG to the hospital directly from the rescue unit. Cardiac problems that were undetectable with older units are now easily discovered, and patient stabilization can begin much sooner. An increase in patient survivability has been proven in studies of those individuals suffering from an acute cardiac event. Strongsville Paramedics respond to approximately four hundred such calls each year.

Special Operations

Hazardous Materials – Strongsville is home to two interstate highways, two state routes, and one railroad that are used to transport hazardous materials on a daily basis. Some of this material passes through our city to other destinations and some of it is used locally in various commercial, industrial, and residential applications. Recognizing the common presence of hazardous material in our city, every member of the Fire and Emergency Services department is trained to the Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Level. If a chemical release occurs that exceeds our ability to handle it with local resources and personnel assistance is available through the regional hazardous materials team known as the Southwest Emergency Response Team – Hazmat (SERT-HM)

SERT – HM is funded by the 19 communities that comprise the Southwest Council of Governments and staffed by firefighters from those communites. Strongsville has committed 10 members of its Fire and Emergency Services Department to participate on this highly specialized hazardous materials team. All team members are trained to the Hazardous Materials Technician level. Several members are trained to the level of HazMat Specialist. Examples of some areas of specialization are radiation, railroad tank cars, over the road tankers, terrorism response, chemical identification, and explosive device response. The team maintains an inventory of sophisticated protective equipment and instrumentation that allows for the rapid identification and implementation of safe strategies and tactics should a chemical release occur. Strongsville Assistant Chief Jeff Branic serves as the Director of SERT – Haz Mat.

Technical Rescue - A new regional special rescue team has been formed. As we have done with the hazardous material response team, Strongsville and the 18 other communities that constitute the Southwest Council of Governments have formed a technical rescue team and fire investigation team. This cooperative approach allows the 19 communities to also share the cost of providing our area with highly skilled teams and the specialized equipment needed to affect life-saving rescues in the most demanding circumstances. Fire department members from Strongsville are in charge of 4 of the 9 teams, Haz-Mat, Dive Rescue, Structural Collapse and Fire Investigation.