Fallon Ambulance Equips Basic Life Support (BLS) Vehicles with Narcan

Emergency Medical Technician's (EMTs) complete training to combat drug overdoses in field
By: Fallon Ambulance
 
QUINCY, Mass. - Sept. 5, 2014 - PRLog -- Fallon Ambulance Service (www.fallonambulance.com), the region’s largest independently owned ambulance service provider, today announced that 82 of their Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances have added Narcan, a drug used to counter the effects of drug overdose, to their treatment protocols.

Prior to today’s announcement, the administration of Narcan was restricted to only the Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicles and Two municipal BLS units.. This recently completed training extends the service to the company’s BLS vehicles, staffed by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). In effect, as of September 8, all of Fallon Ambulance Service’s in-the-field ambulances will be equipped to deploy Narcan when needed. The recent training was completed by an additional 350 Fallon personnel, who are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), bringing the total number of medical personnel trained to administer Narcan to 500.

Kevin Mont, Fallon Ambulance’s Director of Emergency Preparedness, said that everyone in the industry has been acutely aware of the rise in the number of drug overdoses that medical responders come across. He cited the overall regional increase in incidents at between 20% and 30% over the previous year. In fact, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has declared drug overdose/drug abuse a public health emergency.

The company’s ambulances and medical personnel will be ready to deploy Narcan when needed throughout the Fallon Ambulance Service territory:  the municipalities including Quincy, Milton, Braintree, Weymouth, Dedham and Brookline, and the Metro West region as well.

Fallon’s EMTs have recently completed an intensive training program completed at the Fallon Training Center.The training includes both classroom and lectures components as well as in-the-field training per state protocols.

Narcan is used to combat overdose from drugs such as heroin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin) or morphine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine), which can lead to a life-threatening depression of the central nervous system, respiratory system, and hypotension secondary to opiate overdose.

Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President at Fallon Ambulance, said, “We believe that having 500 EMTs and Paramedics trained in understanding the signs and symptoms of narcotic overdose and in how to administer Narcan when and if needed is a huge advantage for our staff in responding to these medical emergencies.” He continued, “We all believe that one drug overdose is one too many, but this tool allowsus to be as prepared as we can be to treat all of the the medical emergencies that we encounter.”

About Fallon Ambulance

Fallon Ambulance Service was founded in 1923 by James R. Fallon, Sr. Mr. Fallon’s son, James R. (Ray) Fallon, Jr., served as President and owner from 1974 until 2000. Today, Timothy J. Fallon, grandson to the founder, serves as President and CEO.  Tim’s sister Kathleen Mackie, step brothers, Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President and Normand Racicot, Vice President, also represent the third generation of this family business. And a fourth generation represented by 7 great grandchildren of the founder is working in various capacities in the organization. Fallon Ambulance is the largest privately owned and operated ambulance service in the Northeast. Fallon Ambulance employs more than 600 personnel, operates more than 150 vehicles and responds to over 160,000 emergency and non-emergency calls per year.  Fallon Ambulance is the 9-1-1 provider for the municipalities of Milton, Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Braintree and Dedham and provides primary backup to Boston and Randolph. Fallon Ambulance Service additionally provides medical transportation for a number of area medical facilities including nursing homes, hospitals, and HMO’s throughout Greater Boston, the South Shore and Metro West region. It is headquartered at 111-115 Brook Road, Quincy, MA and operates satellite offices throughout its coverage area. Fallon Ambulance Service has been recognized many times by various business and community organizations for its exceptional service.  For additional information about Fallon Ambulance Services or programs that the company offers, contact Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President, at (617) 745-2117 or visit www.fallonambulance.com.
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Source:Fallon Ambulance
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Tags:Emergency Response, Boston Ambulance Service, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, First Responders
Industry:Health, Medical
Location:Quincy - Massachusetts - United States
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