Sumter County Fire Rescue (SCFR) is proud to announce the implementation of its first non-transport Advanced Life Support (ALS) Engine beginning April 4, 2011. This advance in service delivery comes after years of preparation and training. It is established under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Villages Public Safety Department (VPSD). Working under the Medical Direction of Dr. John Geeslin and the VPSD State ALS license, SCFR marks the beginning of a five-year implementation plan to provide advanced life support, non-transport services to stabilize acutely ill patients. The program will meet all State of Florida requirements for non-transport advanced life support service. Each ALS first response unit will be staffed with a minimum of one Firefighter/Paramedic and one Firefighter/EMT to respond to citizens’ urgent medical needs. The first ALS Engine is being placed in service in the Wildwood area due to its high call volume for emergency medical services.
Sumter County Fire Rescue Provides Advanced Medical Training
In order to meet the future emergency medical needs of Sumter County, a contract with Lake Vo-Tech was approved to provide a paramedic training program in Sumter County. This is the first time the State approved 1,100-hour program has been offered in Sumter County. It will provide training for 12 Reserve and Career Firefighters as well as students from surrounding counties. This training of personnel is occurring in conjunction with the department’s strategic plan to provide enhanced first-response patient care. Sumter County Fire Rescue currently has 91 Emergency Medical Technicians and 16 Paramedics in our Career and Reserve firefighter ranks