Emergency Medical Services

Medical Emergencies

Medical emergencies represent the majority of calls for service the Farmington Hills Fire Department responds to. Last year, 7,785 residents and visitors required such assistance.

 Specifically, our department provides advanced life support (ALS), the highest level of emergency medicine available within the out-of-hospital environment. This includes electrical therapy, airway management (such as intubation and surgical airways), obtaining intravenous or intraosseous access, needle decompression of chest injuries, and the administration of 27 different types of medication.

 Utilizing a cost-effective yet highly-efficient staffing model, aggressive medical protocols, some of the finest equipment currently available, and a fleet of seven ALS ambulances, three ALS engines, and two basic life support ambulances, the department’s 70 paramedics and 48 emergency medical technicians routinely provide compassionate and exceptional patient care to those they encounter. When necessary, patients are then transported to one of 10 area hospitals with the two most common destinations being Beaumont Hospital - Farmington Hills and Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.

 Given our long-standing reputation as a progressive agency that uses the latest science, procedures, and technology to best serve our customers, the Farmington Hills Fire Department continues to lead the way in many regional and statewide initiatives. They include being one of the first life support agencies in Michigan to utilize Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for patients in severe respiratory distress and acquire 12-Lead electrocardiograms to determine if someone is experiencing a heart attack. We were also the first to transmit “real-time” photos and video of motor vehicle accidents and other mechanisms of injury to local hospitals so emergency physicians and trauma surgeons can better prepare for the arrival of those patients.

 The Farmington Hills Fire Department also worked closely with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority to enable EMTs to use syringes and vials of injectable Epinephrine instead of the costly commercial “Epi Pens” historically used. This has resulted in the ongoing saving of thousands of dollars by not only our city but many other communities throughout the county.

 Given current events, our department is also a driving force behind emergency preparedness efforts well beyond the city limits of Farmington Hills. This includes authoring numerous federal grant requests for specialized mass casualty equipment and training, as well as hosting the annual North American Active Assailant Conference, a three-day event attended by nearly 2,000 emergency responders from throughout the world.

 One aspect of patient care is that our EMTs and paramedics are particularly known for is their management of the most life-threatening condition possible … Cardiac Arrest. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of not only our community’s emergency responders but also our dispatchers and partner hospitals, the City of Farmington Hills enjoys one of the highest survival rates within the United States. However, such success wouldn’t be possible without the numerous members of our community who attend the cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and Stop the Bleed classes our department hosts throughout the year. It’s their training and willingness to get involved that often makes the difference between life and death.

 Should you have questions regarding the Emergency Medical Services capabilities of the Farmington Hills Fire Department, please contact Sergeant Eric Alonzo at (248) 871-2804.
 

Sharps Disposal

To safely dispose of sharps (medical devices including needles, syringes, lancets, blades or any device that could puncture or cut the skin), use an FDA-approved sharps container when possible. Otherwise, a rigid plastic container that can be sealed and labeled properly is a good alternative. When the sharps container becomes full, be sure to seal and label it, and place the container into your trash. Click here to read more information regarding sharps disposal.