The officers of the department are happy to announce and congratulate the two members who have successfully passed their state & national examinations to become certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of EMS. Lieutenant Daniel Giannattino & Firefighter Alyson Bryner were enrolled in the Fall/Winter EMT course at CCAC and in the past two weeks passed their final examination from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians despite restrictions from the COVID-19 Corona Virus has placed on everyday lives.
Both recently were Emergency Medical Responders (EMR’s) and have been serving on the crews of Holiday Park VFD’s QRS. As part of their course, they spent time conducting hands-on shifts with Plum EMS and Monroeville VFD #4’s ambulance units being evaluated by their Paramedics.
Next, they will complete a few additional Continuing Education classes bringing them up to speed on their Scope of Practice and in line with those our Medical Command from Allegheny Health Network (Forbes Hospital) including some additional skills and medication awareness.
Holiday Park VFD was one of the first volunteer fire departments in the state of Pennsylvania to be licensed as a QRS. This was done at the time of the creation of Plum EMS when we turned over our ambulances to them to get the new organization started. With EMS a strong presence and tradition in the department, we started our QRS operations. Since then we have been assisting not only Plum EMS but the other EMS ambulances services that are called into Plum Borough. We focus on providing Basic Life Support till the Advanced Life Support personnel on the ambulances arrive on-scene.
Our department currently operates three certified QRS vehicles to respond to EMS calls. These vehicles have to meet strict criteria and carry specific equipment mandated by the PA Department of Health as well as our Medical Command, AHN-Fobes. In order for a vehicle to respond it must be staffed by certified BLS Providers (EMR, EMT, Medics); supplemented by Firefighters trained in CPR/AED.
– 236-QRS (dedicated primary EMS response vehicle; designed specifically for EMS Ops)
– 236-SQUAD (combination special operations and EMS vehicle)
– 236-RESCUE (EMS capable to assist during Rescue Ops such as vehicle accidents and special rescues)
– plus: 236-ATV has a EMS-Rescue mode where it can be converted to carry patients
