Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue (DVFR) announces approval of its application to become an Advanced Life Support (ALS) agency by the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness (BEMSP). The ALS licensure is effective immediately following an extensive application and inspection process.
Advanced licensure benefits the communities served by DVFR with increased life-saving capabilities, including the ability to start I.V. fluids and administer medications to patients while waiting for transport partners to arrive during medical incidents.
“DVFR members have been working tirelessly over the last year to obtain the training, certifications, and experience required to advance the level of care we are able to provide when every minute is critical,” shared Fire Chief Chet Barnes. “For instance, starting I.V. fluids can mean the difference between life or death for a patient with dangerously low blood pressure, and the availability of medications can minimize pain and discomfort for injured patients.”
Advancing DVFR’s license required bolstering capabilities in both staffing and operations. Responses will now include at least one member certified as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (A-EMT) or higher, which required increasing the number of members certified at this level. DVFR also implemented new safety and control procedures to manage the medications required for ALS responses, including registering for a license from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). A BEMSP representative performed an on-site inspection of DVFR’s facilities and response vehicles as the final step in the application and approval process.
"Everyone in Dammeron Valley should feel proud for what we've accomplished as a community"
Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District (DVFSSD) Board Chair, Mack Sorensen commented, “The numbers of permanent residents, visitors, and travelers who are just passing through on SR18 have been increasing every year. As a result, DVFR responded to a record 243 calls last year, including a mass casualty event in Veyo. It has become critical that our agency is able to provide the highest level of care possible with the resources we have, and this step dramatically improves the potential outcomes for anyone requiring medical service from DVFR.”
The DVFSSD Board and DVFR leadership are committed to continued advancement across all department capabilities for both fire and medical responses. Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue Academy will conduct its first in-house EMT certification course beginning in February, and in anticipation of the creation of the new Western Fire Special Service District, DVFR is proceeding with an application to advance its medical license further to become a transport agency. This will enable the Department to handle medical responses from start to finish, including transport of patients to St. George Regional Hospital.
“We celebrate our successes at DVFR, but we certainly don’t rest on our laurels,” stated Chief Barnes. “It’s truly remarkable what the Department and our members have achieved in such a short time. Accomplishing this key objective in our long-term Strategic Plan demonstrates our commitment to improving safety on the SR18 corridor. Everyone in Dammeron Valley should feel proud for what we’ve accomplished as a community.”