SANFORD, N.C. – FirstHealth of the Carolinas is proud to recognize the Carolina Trace Fire Department for its completion of training as part of the system’s medical first responder program.
Carolina Trace firefighters underwent several weeks of training to align their efforts with protocols that guide medical care in the FirstHealth EMS System.
FirstHealth has provided EMS services in Lee County for the last three years and also provides EMS services in Chatham, Montgomery and Richmond counties.
Nathaniel Miller, M.D., medical director of FirstHealth EMS, said Carolina Trace’s first responders will now be able to assist FirstHealth in higher acuity calls.
“Having additional medical responders is always helpful, but it is most helpful for the sickest of patients,” he said.
“For now, Carolina Trace will only be responding to what we call Delta and Echo calls, which are triage categories assigned by the EMS dispatcher based on the details of the 911 call. The other big advantage of having medical first responders is that there are many more fire stations around a given county than the number of EMS bases, so they generally can get to the patient faster than the ambulance and begin providing medical care sooner.”
Miller said additional fire departments have also begun the process of joining FirstHealth’s medical first responder program.
About FirstHealth EMS
With 40 ambulances and 200 employees, the FirstHealth Regional EMS System is one of the largest ambulance systems in North Carolina, covering more than 3,000 square miles.
