EMS Services in Prince George's County

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

National EMS Week continues with news of new ambulance transport units on the way to Prince George's County.  We have already told you about what will be a PINK Paramedic Unit #812 College Park.  Now we hear the volunteer membership at the Riverdale Fire/EMS Station #807 has a new ambulance transport unit on the way.  Prince George;s County has 2 new transport units on the way scheduled for delivery to Beltsville Fire/EMS Station #831 and Oxon Hill (Livingstone Road) Fire/EMS Station #821.  The approximate cost of a new transport unit is $260,000.

These EMS units will be staffed by career and volunteer firefighters, EMT's and paramedics.  All of our firefighters are trained to a minimum of an Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT-B).  Additional training allows a member to become a Paramedic and administer pre-hospital care including airway management, administration of medication, IV therapy, application and understanding of results from a 12 lead EKG are just a few of the many skills our paramedics possess.

Pre-hospital EMS care and transport arrives in many fashions.  We dispatch traditional Paramedic Units; staffed by two paramedics, Paramedic-Ambulance; staffed by 1 paramedic and 1 EMT-B with additional medic assist training, Paramedic Engine; a paramedic with ALS equipment is included in staffing for the suppression unit but may arrive first at the scene of a medical emergency and initiate treatment.  The Firefighter/Medic may also be used as an extra set of hands on a challenging medical incident.

Four of our volunteer Fire/EMS Stations are capable of placing a Paramedic Ambulance in service.  Branchville, Berwyn Heights, Hyattsville and Laurel Rescue have members trained as Paramedics.  When staffing and required medical equipment are available, an ambulance from one of these 4 volunteer stations can be upgraded to a Paramedic Ambulance and provide pre-hospital advanced life support care.

Fire/EMS Department civilian members are provided the option of receiving emergency medical training.  Some civilian employees are certified at the First Responder level while some are EMT-B.

There are over 580 career firefighters certified as EMT-B with an additional 380+ members certified as paramedics.

Of the approximately 2000 volunteer members in Prince George's County, about 1000 are certified as EMT-B or paramedic.

There are 45 Fire/EMS Stations located through the 500 square miles that comprise Prince George's County serving over 900,000 citizens and residents.  43 of these stations provide EMS, ALS and BLS, care with an ambulance, paramedic ambulance, paramedic unit, paramedic engine or a combination of these units.  2 of our 45 Fire/EMS Stations provide EMS care at the EMT-B level as first responders on-board fire suppression units.