Mount Airy Firefighters Cited in Lifesaving Efforts

MT AIRY – Seven members of the Mount Airy Fire Department have been awarded for lifesaving efforts as part of an expanded medical first-response program launched amid some criticism nearly a year ago.

Those recognized during a meeting of the city board of commissioners Thursday night included Capt. Chris Fallaw; Scottie Wolfe, an engineer with the department; Firefighter David Koehler; Kevin Conner, also a firefighter; Engineer Mike McCraw; Firefighter Kenneth Simmons; and Engineer Jody Seaver.

The seven played key roles in responding to emergencies such as cardiac-related calls, according to Fire Chief Zane Poindexter. Such responses have only a narrow time frame to prevent death or problems such as brain damage.

“All these patients have survived,” Poindexter said, pointing out that they were taken to the hospital after their conditions were stabilized by the firefighters and later released.

The emergencies for which the fire personnel were cited involved a mixture of cardiac arrest and respiratory distress cases. Some of the members were recognized for saving the same victims, since they work in teams to render different aspects of emergency care, such as administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or an AED (automated external defibrillator).

“I stand before you as a very proud fire chief,” Poindexter said at Thursday night’s meeting. “As a fire chief, there is no more valuable service than you can offer the citizens than giving their life back to them.”

Poindexter said Monday that four cases involving a certified “save” by city firefighters have been recorded since the start of the program, with another three pending. He doesn’t see any problem with those being counted as official saves as well.

An audit committee that includes members of the medical community reviews each case to determine whether input by an emergency responder was sufficient to constitute an official save. “There’s a whole lot of qualifiers that have to be met before a life-save is determined,” Poindexter has said.

In addition to the saves, “countless” other help has been rendered during the course of the program so far, the chief said.

Last week’s recognition of the city firefighters came just 13 days before the first anniversary of its beginning in Mount Airy.

The effort has involved fire personnel answering a wide range of calls in addition to cardiac-related emergencies that they responded to before. The list includes strokes, diabetes-related issues, lightning strikes involving injury, cuttings/stabbings, overdoses, shootings, drowning/diving accidents, unresponsive persons, abdominal pain and others.

Poindexter has said the program was launched to provide an additional service to citizens, and not to replace — but supplement — the work of agencies such as the Surry Emergency Medical Service and Mount Airy Rescue Squad.

Theoretically, firefighters trained in emergency medical response can reach parts of the city (in an average time of less than three minutes) before regular paramedic crews with the Surry EMS and stabilize matters until advanced life support arrives.

Some 102 medical calls were run during the first month alone as part of the expanded program.

Cost Defended

The expense of the expanded service, put at only $1,200 per year, is being absorbed by the fire department’s regular budget outlays for fuel, personnel and other expenses required, Poindexter has said.

When the program started, there was skepticism among the citizenry that the cost estimates were understated and that the service would end up being much more expensive.

Though fuel prices for the year have escalated to some extent, implementation of the program has not presented “a significant budget impact at all,” the fire chief said Monday. The department still fuels its vehicles at about the same rate it always has, and makes only “short” runs to in-city locations, Poindexter said.

He added that the number of additional calls anticipated for 2011 could end up being slightly less than first anticipated.

Overall, the fire official believes the program has added a significant benefit to citizens at a negligible cost. The department has made use of existing training, equipment and other resources to implement the new service.

Members of the city council think the program has been extremely worthwhile from a lifesaving standpoint while also allaying fears of an expensive expansion of bureaucracy.

“Any amount,” said Commissioner Steve Yokeley, “is very-well-spent, even if we just save one life.” The success of the program so far, as exemplified by the presentation of the lifesaving awards, is gratifying, Yokeley said.

“I’d like to echo what Steve said,” Commissioner Todd Harris commented, indicating that the overall value of the service has far eclipsed its expense.

“I think that’s some of the best dollars we’ve spent.”