Overview
In 1898 Dublin Fire Brigade
first operated an ambulance service for the people of Dublin. In
that first year we responded to 537 calls. Today with 11 ambulances
we now are responding to over 90,000 with the figure growing each
year.
The
ambulance service provided by Dublin Fire Brigade covers most
of Dublin in tandem with the Eastern Regional Health Authority
who also operate ambulances from 4 bases at Swords, Tallaght Hospital,
Loughlinstown Hospital, and James Hospital.
The Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance service only responds
to emergency 999 or 112 (911 etc.) calls.
All
of the fulltime stations in Dublin (11) with the exception of
Dun Laoghaire have one ambulance. The headquarters in Townsend
Street operates 2 ambulances.
Training.
All recruits during their
initial training do a seven week course which qualifies them as
an Emergency Medical Technician Part-B (basic soon to be termed
Paramedic 1). In addition to comply with the Department of Health's
requirement the recruits then operate on the ambulance as an intern
(third person) for a set period with a further period being assigned
ambulance duty every second day and night as part of their normal
shift. After that they are rotated onto the ambulance in a next
in turn basis the frequency depending on the number of personnel
in their station.
There are a number of Paramedics
in Dublin Fire Brigade who completed an eight month course in
Boston and have been keeping their skills fresh over here by spending
time assisting in hospitals. Currently the Irish Ambulance service
has launched and EMT-A (advanced) program with the first class
of candidates currently doing their course. When implemented
with enough people trained this will allow EMT-A to carry out
intubation, IV's, administer a range of drugs primarily cardiac
etc. In it's early stage the final practical implementation in
all service has not been finalized.
Protocols for procedures have
been developed a the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council for use
by all ambulance staff.
A range of other courses available
to civilians and medical staff are also taught at the Dublin Fire
Brigade Training Centre in Marino. For information see the
training
centre pages.
Vehicles
All Dublin ambulance are
now Ford Voyager models built by Wilker. The ambulances have a
single trolley in the rear with two patient seats and a seat at
the head of the patient for the attendant. The
trolley is a rugged trolley which has found favour with the crews.
A new CEN compliant ambulance is due to be introduced next year.
External lockers allow for the storage of 2 spinal
boards, 2 large oxygen cylinders and an orthopedic stretcher.
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