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information should I have ready if I need to call 9-1-1 for
Responding in seconds, arriving in minutes
Thurston County Medic One/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is a comprehensive, multiple agency, county-wide EMS system. When a person needs emergency medical help, emergency medical responders stand ready to provide. Within seconds of someone dialing 9-1-1, EMS personnel are responding to your call for help. The coordinated Medic One EMS system is able to respond basic life support (BLS) personnel within and average of 6.7 minutes and paramedics within an average of 8.9 minutes across the 727 square miles of Thurston County.
The first tier is our citizens...
The Thurston County Medic One/EMS system trains citizens of the importance in accessing emergency medical help quickly through 9-1-1. The EMS system also trains citizens how to perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the importance of recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack. The EMS System is also becoming active in prevention. Education is providing information on bicycle safety, trauma prevention and seatbelt safety. Contact Medic One for a convenient CPR Class for you and your family (see CPR Training on this website). Click here for CPR Training schedule.
Public Access Defibrillators
The Medic One/EMS System started a new Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) training program in 1999. Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) are being purchased by businesses for use by public and customers in public areas. Medic One personnel will train personnel in the businesses how to use the PAD devices. PAD's being readily available for use during a cardiac arrest has been shown to significantly improve survival rates. PAD classes are routinely offered to the public free of charge.
There are 17 Fire jurisdictions in Thurston County. Each Fire Department has from one to four stations. There are multiple aid units across the county. Because there are multiple BLS units stationed around the county, a BLS unit is usually within 6 minutes of the call for help (see up to date response time by jurisdiction on this page). Some of the aid units are Aid vans some are Fire Engines outfitted with medical equipment. All BLS Aid vehicles have medical equipment and personnel that must meet state standards for licensed EMS agencies. BLS vehicles carry, computerized defibrillators to shock the heart, equipment to assist breathing and oxygen, bandages for bleeding and splints for broken bones. BLS personnel are educated in a three month program to perform life saving medical procedures. Advanced procedures that enter a patients body or the giving of medications requires advanced paramedic level of care. Some Fire Departments outfit their personnel with personal aid kits. Volunteer EMS personnel can then respond more quickly from their home directly to the neighbor that called for help.
BLS Personnel are dual role and *% are volunteers
Most Fire services personnel are cross trained as EMS personnel. This dual role responsibility makes a large group available for EMS response. Nearly *% are volunteers but paid or volunteer all dual role personnel are responsible for two jobs. When not performing one they are able to perform the other.
The third tier, advanced life support paramedics...
Paramedic units are staffed with two paramedics (medics). Paramedics are trained for two years of classroom and field training. Paramedics perform advanced diagnosis, perform invasive procedures (airway breathing tubes, intravenous, surgical procedures and medications administration). Medic Vehicles are equipped with sophisticated emergency equipment usually only found in a hospital emergency room. Two Medics working together are able to quickly access patient needs, perform life saving treatments, talk to an emergency doctor and package the patient for rapid transport to the most appropriate emergency medical care facility, while providing ongoing care en route to the hospital. If there are multiple patients on the scene, dual medic crews can split up and each takes care of a patient. Enough equipment is available to transport patients in separate vehicles, transport vehicles can transport multiple patients lying down. Medic One Paramedic units are stationed in urban, suburban and rural areas of Thurston County. Of those paramedic units, some are dual paramedic staffed transport vehicles, one is a peak hour staffed unit and one is a single paramedic SPRINT (single paramedic rapid intervention non transport) vehicles. Southwest county area is currently staffed with a SPRINT vehicle. SPRINT units are designed for low response volume areas to get a paramedic on the scene quickly to start care while a more distant transport unit is still en route.
Rapid on scene care, assistance en route...
BLS and ALS personnel work together on the scene to rapidly determine the patient's needs, provide treatments, communicate with the hospital and transport the patient(s) to the most appropriate medical facility. Frequently, BLS personnel will ride with ALS personnel and patient to the hospital, driving or assisting medics with care en route.
What information should I have ready if I need to call 9-1-1 for EMS help?
Information that will help emergency medical responders:
For more information about Thurston County Medic One/Emergency Medical Services System, please contact the Medic One at (360) 704-2780 or e-mail at info@medic-one.thurston.wa.us . Staff are available to answer questions and give community presentations.
Updated March 2010
*= homeland security update