North Collier Fire

NAPLES, Fl- North Collier Fire and Rescue can continue to provide our community with Advanced Life Support. It allows our medics to perform live saving measures to patients on scene while the ambulance is on the way. The continuance was approved by the Board of Collier County. Thank you to the County Commissioners, Emergency Medical Authority, Chief Butcher, Director Summers and County Staff for their support of Advanced Life Support reapplication so that we can continue to provide high quality medical services to our community. ALS procedures are performed on patients suffering from cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, respiratory ailments, overdose, trauma and more. In 2016, North Collier Fire responded to 10,787 medical calls including vehicle crashes. The administration of life saving medication on scene is critical and is increasing each year with 818 medical administrations in 2016 compared to 588 the year prior. In addition, 3,989 Advanced Life Support (ALS) procedures were performed on patients in 2016 compared to 2,555 in the year prior and 278 in 2010. The need for Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures is rising with 4,170 performed in 2016 compared to 1,616 the year prior. In critical moments, these procedures are the difference between life and death. North Collier Fire has been licensed by the State of Florida to provide Advanced Life Support Services since 2011. Each year, the District is issued a Certificate of Need (CON) by the County that allows for it to implement these advanced lifesaving procedures. As we approach our CON renewal on March 31st, we reflect on the increased need in our community and the lives saved. In January, the Fire Chief of North Collier, James Cunningham informed the Fire Commissioners that the relationship between Collier County EMS and the Fire District has never been stronger. North Collier employs approximately 100 paramedics and we have integrated with Collier EMS for quarterly training, conducted joint quality assurance meetings and operate under the Medical Direction of Dr. Robert Tober, Deputy Medical Director Dr. Robert Lee and the team of Associate Medical Directors Dr. Jeff Panozzo, Dr. Paul Hobaica, Dr. Richard Juda, Dr. James Augustine and Dr. Debbie Lopez. Every two years, the District's paramedics are held to a high standard of excellence and are required to meet bench marks, successfully pass a medical exam and participate in a one-on-one meeting with the District's Medical Director….all to ensure that advanced emergency medical care can be provided with the highest level of dedication and expertise, especially when needed as every second counts.