EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS
How does the South Milwaukee
Emergency Medical System Work?
The 911 dispatcher first receives your call. They
will listen to you and ask a few important questions. Using
a medical protocol, the dispatcher will make the appropriate
dispatch for your emergency.
If your emergency is non-life threatening, you will receive
a rescue squad or possibly a fire engine. All department
apparatus are staffed with emergency medical technicians and
emergency medical equipment.
If your emergency is life threatening, a paramedic unit will
be sent along with a rescue squad or other department
apparatus. Paramedic units always work with a rescue squad
in the delivery of care to patients.
Why so many units?
The South Milwaukee Fire department will send the
closest department apparatus to an emergency. Therefore,
often a rescue squad or fire engine will arrive at a medical
emergency and begin care. Other department rescue squads or
the paramedic unit may join this unit later.
Types of Responses
EMT First Responder:
All South Milwaukee Fire department engines, ladder trucks
and rescue squads are staffed and equipped with emergency
medical technicians and the necessary medical supplies to
handle most emergencies.
Basic Life Support (BLS) rescue squads:
The department has three Basic Life Support rescue squads.
These units are equipped with Firefighter/EMT's and are
designed to respond, treat and transport non-life
threatening patients.
Advanced Life Support (Paramedic) rescue squads:
The department has one Advanced Life Support (ALS) rescue
squad. This unit is equipped and staffed with up to three
Firefighter/Paramedics and is designed to respond, treat and
transport life-threatening emergencies.
Patients being transported by a South Milwaukee Fire
department BLS/ALS rescue squad may be transported to any
hospital in Milwaukee County. If the patients medical needs
requires immediate intervention, the patient may be
transported to the closest facility or a hospital for
specialized care.
Will there be a cost?
The City of South Milwaukee charges for the cost of
ALS & BLS transport and care.
Ambulance Billing Questions: City Hall 414-762-2222
EMT Training
Emergency Medical Technicians receive 140 hours of
training. They are generically referred to as EMT's. All
members of the department are certified to the minimum EMT
level. Their skills and knowledge include the following:
* Expanded basic life support
* Basic life support
* Advance airway maintenance
* Oxygen administration
* Splinting and bandaging
* Obstetrical care
* Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
* Semi-automatic heart defibrillation
* Epinephrine administration
Paramedic Training
Paramedics receive an additional 1600+ hours of training.
This allows a more in-depth study of pre-hospital care.
Their skills and knowledge level include all of those of the
EMT plus the following:
- Comprehensive patient assessment
- Advanced life support
- Intubation (a breathing tube into the lungs)
- Manual heart defibrillation
- Cardiac management skills
- EKG interpretation
- 12 Lead EKG assessment
- Establishment of intravenous (IV) lines
- Establishment of intraosseous (IO) lines
- Administration of medicines
- Thoracic decompression
- Pericardiocentesis |
