Advanced Life Support CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE THAT MATTERS

We are nearly a week away from the East Manatee Fire Commissioners votes on whether to begin the process to implement Advanced Life Support (ALS) in East Manatee Fire Rescue for East County residents.  If you are unsure as to the difference ALS can make vs Basic Life Support…please read Tim’s story.

On August 1, 2009 I woke up dead in fire camp at a wildland fire...with a pulse of 20 and a BP of about 0. With an ALS ambulance standing by I was sped 20 miles to the nearest hospital...every second an external pacemaker sending a bolt of lightning to keep me alive. Three weeks later I was back on the fire line, but only after the hospital implanted
a pacemaker and discovered life-threatening flaws in my heart--ascending aorta aneurysm, aortic valve malfunction, +more. A year later my heart got a rebuild and now 12 years later I just logged 1,500 volunteer hours at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. So my life is not only longer, but productive.

ALS is the reason Tim is still around and living a productive life.  Fortunately for Tim, an ALS ambulance was on standby.  These days, we don’t have that luxury.  But whether provided by EMS or EMFR, ALS MAKES A DIFFERENCE.  This isn’t an EMS vs EMFR issue.  This is an issue of the citizens of East County receiving the best service available. Let’s add ALS as an added service by our fire department to supplement EMS and increase the availability of ALS in East County.  Show your support with your presence or speaking before the commission, Mon., July 25th at 6pm.