Ready to respond: Most calls involve medical treatment
Central Emergency Services is just a fire department, right?
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Wrong.
It might be surprising to know that about 90 percent of all CES calls are emergency medical service-related incidents.
Only 10 percent of calls are fire-related; of those just 3 to 4 percent are working structure fires, said CES Captain Lesley Quelland on Wednesday at CES' fourth annual media day.
This year, CES offered a taste of a day in the life of an EMT III-Paramedic.
Paramedic Coordinator for Kenai Peninsula College, Paul Perry, brought over several pieces of training equipment to Station 1 in Soldotna to show part of the training regiment for CES personnel.
Two of the most expensive -- and impressive -- instruments were two mannequins, one adult-sized the other infant-sized, designed to simulate real human beings.
The infant, called "Sim baby," can display 2,500 different cardiac rhythms, indicate head trauma and even seize.
Both "Sim baby" and "Sim man" are controlled by computers. The same equipment contained in each ambulance is used in training, Perry said.
"Sim man," an $83,000 piece of equipment, can even be attached to a defibrillator, Perry said.
Perry also brought the bust of a mannequin for intubation practice.
Prior to intubating a patient, an assessment of the individual is done to determine whether or not they require intubation, said Shawn Killian, CES engineer-paramedic.
Called the Glasgow scale, a person's vision, motor and verbal skills are tested, rating responses on a scale from one to 15. The higher the score, the less likely intubation is needed.
"If you're an eight, we need to intubate," is the general rule, Killian said.
He said the tube should be inserted quickly; 30 to 60 seconds.
According to Quelland, about one-third to half of all calls are for patients 45 years of age and older. Due to an aging heart, seizure, strokes and "slips, trips and falls," become more likely.
Training exercises are essential to stay proficient with these life-saving skills, Quelland said.
"You've got to be prepared," she said.
Some of the CES stations only have one person working, so if toned out, they might be alone for 10 to 15 minutes until backup arrives.
CES covers 2,200 square miles of the Kenai Peninsula. Quelland said she never knows what the day will bring.
"You never know what you're doing or where you're going," she said. "You leave to come to work prepared -- mentally, physically and emotionally.
"You pack your lunch," she added, "you never know when your next meal is."
Perry, who's been teaching paramedic technology at KPC for four years, shares his life-like training equipment with not only CES but also the Nikiski and Kenai fire departments.
"It's a good partnership," he said.
In the medical field, continuing education is essential, Perry said.
"The medical profession is a constantly changing industry. You need to work hard to stay on top of it," he said.
Perry said as the baby boomer generation ages, a need for more pre-hospital care will arise.
"The job description of the paramedic is changing to manage those type of primary care situations," he said.
In the past, paramedics dealt more with acute injuries. Today, much more chemistry education and training is needed for the job, Perry said.
Before the creation of his class, hopeful paramedics had to travel Outside to receive the necessary training, he said.
So far, CES has hired three graduates from Perry's class and Nikiski has hired six.
Mike Nesper can be reached at mike.nesper@peninsulaclarion.com.