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Hollywood Park Fire Department reports expanded ALS services, hires paramedics and launches local breast-cancer fundraiser
Summary
Chief reported increased advanced life support responses, five paramedics on staff with a sixth in training, grant-funded medical supplies and a $16,000-per-year medical director contract; the firefighters' association is selling shirts to fund local breast cancer assistance.
The Hollywood Park Fire Department told the council that advanced life support (ALS) care is being provided on an increasing share of EMS calls and that staffing and grants are enabling the change. Chief Richard Burnside reported the department responded to 47 total calls in August, including 30 EMS calls and about 25 calls that included an ALS procedure such as EKG monitoring, IVs or medication administration prior to transport.
"We do not bill any resident for any type of medical service that the fire department provides," Chief Burnside said, adding that supplies for ALS care are paid by an annual grant through University Health Systems and that the department pays a medical director contract of $16,000 per year. "We currently have five paramedics right now, and we have one individual going to school, so we'll hopefully have six," Burnside said of the department's staffing.
Burnside described a local operational change that reduced automatic mutual-aid dispatches for commercial fire alarms. He said the department requested that, for Hollywood Park commercial alarms, mutual-aid responses not be dispatched automatically unless the town specifically calls for assistance because many commercial alarms are false alarms and cancelations en route create safety and efficiency concerns.
The department reported continuing training and inspections: 47 commercial inspections and pre-plans in August, 291 collective training hours for the month, vehicle extrication training with county instructors, and personnel obtaining Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certifications including driver-operator and incident safety officer credentials.
Lieutenant Bates and other members of the firefighter association presented a community fundraising plan for breast cancer awareness: the association ordered 210 shirts for pre-sale with all proceeds intended to remain local to assist people in Hollywood Park directly affected by breast cancer. The association said they will work with local health partners and regional cancer centers to identify local families or individuals in need but have not finalized a formal distribution process. The association stressed that the campaign and funds are separate from the city's operating budget and are managed by the firefighters' association.
The council thanked the department for expanded ALS services, training and inspections and noted the grant-funded nature of ALS supplies and the annual medical director fee.
