available, who will gather pertinent medical information, check Mr.

available, who will gather pertinent medical information, check Mr. Smith’s blood pressure, pulse and respiration and start him on oxygen.

The second unit on the scene, the advanced life support unit, will be staffed with a state-certified cardiac rescue technician (CRT). The CRT will connect Mr. Smith to an EKG (heart) machine that will provide a tracing of his heart activity.

Together with the information obtained by the EMT, the CRT will contact the nearest emergency room physician via a special radio called a med radio. The physician will receive the information concerning Mr. Smith’s condition and will receive a copy of the heart tracing over the med radio.

The physician then may order an intravenous line be placed in Mr. Smith’s vein, possibly with medications to decrease the pain or correct irregularities in the heart.

It’s now 6:46 a.m. Mr. Smith is enroute to the emergency room where the staff is preparing for his arrival. On the way, his heart is constantly being monitored. The intravenous line is in place, and Mr. Smith can instantly receive medication, if needed.

Actually, at the instant he awakened his wife, Mr. Smith entered the Emergency Medical Service System.

T%is article will explain the Emergency Medical System (EMS) and how it works in Rappahannock County.

The past 20 years have brought many changes in emergency medical services to Rappahannock. This type of ambulance service has come a long way from the days patients were transported by ambulance but were not given pre-hospital emergency treatment.

The EMS system takes action in several phases.

• The first is the “ill” or “injured patient.”

• Next is the “bystander” or “first responder.” This is the person who is closest to the patient needing help and who will assist until trained help arrives.

• The call to the communications (dispatch) center follows.

In Rappahannock County the emergency Fire and Rescue number