fdpatch (1)

Groveland Fire Department
Robert B. Lay, Fire Chief
Public Safety Building
181 Main St
Groveland, MA 01834

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Groveland Fire Department Receives License to Deliver Lifesaving Medications During Acute Medical Emergencies

The Groveland Fire Department received its Class V ambulance license and is now able to deliver lifesaving medications to people having acute medical emergencies. Left to right: Chief Robert Lay, Firefighter and EMS Coordinator Brian Belfiore and Firefighter Jennifer Hicks. (Courtesy Photo Groveland Fire Department)

GROVELAND — Chief Robert Lay is pleased to announce that the Groveland Fire Department has earned its Class V ambulance license and is able to respond and administer medications to those having acute medical emergencies.

Squad 1 at the Headquarters building and Squad 2 in the South Groveland Station are now equipped with Albuterol, glucose, EpiPens, Narcan, glucometers and aspirin, which EMTs can deliver to those suffering from chest pain, bee stings, asthma attacks, allergic reactions, opioid overdoses and more.

Prior to earning its Class V license, the Groveland Fire Department was a first responder agency with a limited ability to manage more serious medical conditions that are often encountered in the field. Groveland Fire personnel would often have to wait for Trinity, the town’s partner ambulance, to provide the lifesaving medications, which at times could be several minutes after the fire department’s arrival.

“Improving our delivery of emergency medical services in Groveland remains one our top priorities and obtaining this license was one our strategic imperatives,” Chief Lay said. “This license is a significant step forward for the department and the community to which it serves.”

Currently 12 out of the department’s 31 firefighters are trained as EMTs and will operate Squad 1 and 2. Another 10 firefighters are in the process of receiving their EMT certification — and once complete, more than 2/3 of the fire department will be able to deliver life saving medication to residents.

Additionally, Groveland has been a HeartSafe accredited community since 2016. This program designates cities and towns that continue to improve the survivability of sudden cardiac arrest and prevent it before it occurs. This directly ties into Groveland’s Class V license, as EMTs’ ability to deliver medications like Albuterol, glucose and EpiPens will further prevent sudden cardiac arrest from occurring.

“As a HeartSafe Community, it is imperative that we continue to find ways to deliver outstanding patient care and increase the survivability for all of our residents and visitors,” said Groveland’s HeartSafe Coordinator Taylor Balletto. “The Class V license mandates high training standards for our personnel, and allows for administration of medications that can prevent an out of hospital cardiac arrest. It will serve us well as we continue to improve these initiatives.”

The Groveland Fire Department would like to thank the Board of Selectmen for its support during the licensing process, which took more than a year to complete, along with Holy Family Hospital, which provides medical direction and oversight for the Groveland Fire Department.

“I am, and have always been excited to work with the Groveland Fire Department,” said Holy Family Hospital EMS Manager Christopher Wood. “Their hard work and dedication to quality patient care every day does not go unnoticed.”

###

Groveland Fire Department Receives License to Deliver Lifesaving Medications During Acute Medical Emergencies
Tagged on:                         

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *