IN Fire Company Earns ALS Certification

July 31 -- ANDERSON, IN -- At 6 p.m. on July 18, a local volunteer fire department accomplished a goal that had been in the works for nearly a year.

Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department increased its level of care from basic life support to advanced life support provider with the July 18 run, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.

An advanced provider can administer IV fluids, including IV Narcan, respond to diabetic emergencies, administer breathing treatments and epinephrine for allergic reaction, advanced EMT John Moore said.

Moore has been an advanced EMT at Richland since February 2017. About a year ago, he and Fire Chief Josh Hendrick began the process of receiving ALS certification, Moore said.

The legwork to upgrade the provider care level is significant.

The department needs approval from its medical director, which in Richland’s case, is St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, provide 24-hour coverage, have or be in process of having the proper equipment and medication and have cardiac monitors, he said.

“We have or are working toward all of that,” Moore said. “The only thing we’re still working on is the cardiac monitors.”

With the new certification came a new ambulance equipped with medication used in the advanced calls, said EMT Debbie Gates, the department’s spokesperson.

“There’s a huge need for this,” Gates said.

When Richland was providing basic life support, it dispatched calls needing advanced services to Anderson and Alexandria fire departments and Seals ambulance, Gates said.

“This makes us more self-sufficient on the runs we can handle as EMTs and not have to call in to others,” Gates said. “Because their priority has to run with their territories.”

The number of ambulance runs Richland Township responds to has increased over the past few years, but the number of advanced level providers and paramedics has decreased, Moore said.

“As our township ages, they need more care. The higher level of care in our township is definitely a positive thing for our demographic,” Moore said.

RECRUITING BEGAN

When Hendrick and Richland Township Trustee Bill England decided to pursue the certification, they began recruiting for advanced EMTs, or EMT-A, for the department, Moore said.

The department has three advanced EMTs with four basic EMTs who have completed the advanced course and are awaiting testing, and two paramedics, Moore said.

“Our ultimate goal is to move into a paramedic-level provider,” he said. Moore said he is seeking his paramedic certificate, which is a two-year course and can cost up to $8,000.

The push for greatness in Richland Township goes beyond their medical care, said ambulance driver and firefighter Alec Ballousa.

Ballousa, who came from a department in another county, frequently goes on calls with Moore. He said that working together has created a silent language between them while working.

“We frequently go on runs together. I know how John likes things, I know how John works, “ Ballousa said. “I’ll have the next thing ready for him, so he won’t need to ask.”

Moore said, “I can give him a look, they know, ‘OK, we’re calm, we’re cool.’ It’s a storm underneath the waves thing. He can tell by looking at me that it’s serious but we’re moving fast and staying calm.”

Gates called the three of them a “full load,” because any combination of the Moore, Ballousa and herself could respond to a call in that moment.

While the first responders know when it’s time to get to business, all three of them said they love working at Richland Township for the atmosphere.

“It’s like night and day from the department I was at,” Ballousa said. “We goof around and we have fun, but when it’s time, we get serious and we do our part.”

Moore, an EMT of 15 years, said Richland is the best department he’s worked for, and Gates agreed.

Gates started working as a first responder seven years ago, celebrated three years at Richland last Thursday and has been an EMT for two years. She said she would only change one thing.

“Unlike a lot of these guys who have been doing this since they were young, I started this later in life,” Gates said. “If I could do anything different, I would have started doing this earlier. It’s beyond fulfilling.”

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