This is not
your dad’s rescue squad!
Over
the years, Falcon Direct has specialized in serving the needs of those who serve
others. In this capacity, we have
noted that money trickles down with law enforcement traditionally receiving the
most, then paid fire departments and ambulance services followed by volunteer
fire departments, and dead last – rescue squads!
We
have always had a great deal of respect for those who give their time as rescue
squad volunteers and marveled at the resourcefulness that allows them to do so
much with so little. Some exhibit
high levels of administrative capabilities coupled with operational skills,
community interaction, and innovation. One
of those deserving special recognition is the Phil Campbell Rescue Squad, and in
particular the implementation of a new system called The Button!
Historically,
volunteer rescue squads have been formed in rural communities where patient
transport and medical treatment facilities are lacking.
The people who make up these organizations rarely receive the recognition
of other Public Safety agencies but they are typically more involved in life and
death situations than either law enforcement or fire fighting.
Unfortunately,
the operations cost for rescue activities is often equal to or greater than that
of other public safety activities. This
means that to maintain effectiveness, there have to be financial resources.
Grants have historically been all but non-existent, public support has
been minimal, and there is only so much that can be done with traditional fund
raising. The conclusion is that the
money must come from PAID transport activities.
The
Phil Campbell Rescue Squad (PCRS) provides the fastest response to medical calls
of any provider in their area. Why?
Because they are there! Unlike
public commercial ambulance services that may not have a transport vehicle
within 30 miles, PCRS has the ability to typically be on the scene within 5
minutes or less. With this capability, you would think that anyone needing
medical transport services would first call PCRS.
Unfortunately, that has not always been the case.
Barry
Pounders, President of PCRS decided he would do something to change the
situation. Barry recognized that
one of the primary delays in obtaining prompt medical response were the
procedures involved with processing a call through 911.
While these procedures are necessary to properly handle calls from the
general public, they can delay response times from those who have some medical
knowledge and simply need help in a hurry.
Armed
with this information, Barry contacted Dr. Keith Morrow of the Phil Campbell
Medical Clinic with a proposal to provide The Button as a means of INSTANTLY
contacting the PCRS in the event of an emergency.
With The Button installed in the clinic treatment room, the clinic staff
could summon transport service by simply pressing a button.
The
Button,
is a battery powered voice annunciating transmitter that operates completely
independently of the clinic AC power. In
simple terms, pressing the button instantly transmits a voice message to all
PCRS squad members via their two-way radios.
The message is transmitted twice automatically.
The
message can be changed by the PCRS as desired with no special tools required. Currently the message is programmed to broadcast Emergency
Medical at PCM Clinic.
Upon
receipt, available members respond within minutes.
Two of the PCRS squad members, Melissa Moore and Barbara King live nearby
and respond with Rescue 76, normally parked between their homes! If a larger vehicle is required, Rescue 75, lovingly known as
Barry’s Box is sent from the PCRS Operations Center.
Speaking
of an Operations Center, the PCRS operations center is generally manned by
volunteers during the day. It goes
without saying that the folks of PCRS have put a lot of work into their squad
and they have been doing it for a long time.
Barbara King has been a member since 1988 and she is still going strong. Her husband, now deceased, was involved with the squad since
the beginning.
Anyway
– Barry’s idea was that PCRS would place The Button in the clinic at no
charge to the clinic. Instead of
dialing an out of town ambulance service, or 911, the clinic staff would only
need to push the red button to summon transport service.
In many cases the patient is picked up and transported to nearby
hospitals in Haleyville or Russellville quicker than a commercial transport
vehicle can arrive at the clinic!
To
say that The Button has been a success would be a mild understatement. Within just a short time after being installed, PCRS received
an ALS (Advanced Life Support) call. This
one run more than paid for the cost of The Button.
When personnel at the clinic needs medical transport service, they know
they can get it quickly at the push of a button.
This is a win-win situation for the patient (faster transport to an
advanced treatment facility), for the clinic with more efficient procedures, and
for PCRS who can generate the vitally needed income for providing rescue
services in rural northwest Alabama.
Installation
of The Button has now been made at the local High School with plans to add
another unit at the elementary school. Who
knows? In time, everyone in Phil
Campbell may have The Button! Is
the Phil Campbell Rescue Squad a little different?
You bet it is! Can others do
the same thing? You bet they can,
and we hope they do!
********
For
additional information on the button, contact
Falcon Direct
About
the author
Burch
Falkner has been involved in serving the needs of
public safety users for over 40 years. As
a former City of
Birmingham fireman, and advisor to a number of fire and
rescue departments, he specializes in working with volunteer
agencies throughout the United States