Paramedic Program

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The Mountain View Fire Department has a long history of delivering first aid and emergency medical services with a number of enhancements implemented throughout the years. In the 1960s, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was taught to fire personnel. The 1970s saw the addition of advanced first aid, and by the early 1980s, firefighters were certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). By the early 1990s, skill levels were elevated to include cardiac defibrillation (EMT-D).

The Fire Department provides paramedic level services on each of its five engines, truck, and rescue.

The most recent advance in patient care was the addition of 12 lead cardiac monitors to the Department's inventory. Formerly, patients having a cardiac emergency were required to wait until delivery to an emergency room before this diagnostic tool was available. The new 12 lead provides paramedics with greater and more accurate information related to the condition of the patients heart. This information can then be transmitted wirelessly to the receiving hospital prior to the patients arrival. With this information in hand, the hospital can more quickly provide appropriate care to the patient. The reduction in time between onset and definitive treatment improves survivability and may reduce the amount of permanent cardiac tissue damage.