REPOST A Fire Districts primary obligation is to the residents who support the fire district through property taxes.

 A Fire Districts primary obligation is to the residents who support the fire district through property taxes. 

The Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District, LMRFD only covers 144 square miles in the communities of Dolan Springs and Meadview, but not the parcels between the two communities.

In the past when the LMRFD had 6 ambulances and lots of volunteers the LMRFD ambulance CON was tasked to cover 2200 square miles. That's 2056 square miles larger than the 144 sm fire district. That's larger than all other fire district ambulances in the county, and even runs into parts of Coconino County.

 

The red line on the map below is the 2200 square mile area the LMRFD ambulance is required to cover. The blue squares are all the fire districts in Mohave County. The big blue square and the smaller one inside the red line are the areas covered by the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District Ambulance

As you can see the area covered by the LMRFD's one ambulance is larger than the area covered by all other fire district ambulances combined, it even runs up into Coconino County.

At one time the LMRFD had 6 ambulances, several quick response rigs and lots of volunteers. The economy and some bad choices left the LMRFD with two EMT firefighters and a few volunteers and one ambulance capable of transporting patients. 

No other fire chief with such limited resources would ever send his only ambulance outside their fire district if it left their district with nothing. Residents in White Hills and West of US-93 get the same fire and EMS service, yet never pay a dime unless they have a fire or medical emergency. 

With Meadview such a checkerboard of parcels inside and outside of the fire district, I wonder how many times someone really checks if a parcel was in or out of the district after a fire to even send a bill for services.

Who would voluntarily choose to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars in property tax when they get the same services for free now? 

What Can We Do??

Stop responding to fires outside the fire district. Advise residents in White Hills and West of US-93 they are not in the LMRFD. We need to offer a subscription service charging $60 to $100 a year. If you're not on the paid list, they don't respond. This would generate revenue to hire and train additional EMS personnel. 

Like other fire districts reduce the ambulance CON to the area covered by the fire district. If people in the 2056 square miles outside the fire district want EMS service, pay a subscription service, start a fire district or start your own ambulance service. 

We can’t abandon the taxpayers in the LMRFD to respond to areas that have been repeatedly told they have no service and have rebuffed attempts to provide their own fire or EMS service. 

Our first duty is to our citizens. We have no contractual liability to respond to fires outside the fire district. White Hills and west of US93 are not in a fire district, we can't have a mutual aid agreement because they have no aid to offer. 

One of these days someone important will die because our only ambulance was miles outside the fire district, only then will things change.

Two Die in Fatal Home Fire October 9th in Dolan Springs 30 Minutes for Fire to Respond So Why Can't More People Volunteer?

Correction only one person died in the fire... On October 9th two people died in a trailer fire on Jasper and 10th in Dolan Springs. You can literally see the fire station from the home, yet it took around 30 minutes for a lone volunteer firefighter to arrive on scene. The two firefighters we pay to be at the fire station were out on an ambulance run in Kingman and took a long time to respond.

Chances are without a smoke alarm these people couldn't have been saved. But the family is devastated by the deaths, but even more so because the bodies were burned beyond recognition and dental records were required to identify their loved ones.  

Every time the two firefighters we pay to be at the fire station and protect the fire district, they can be providing services for someone who pays no property tax to support the fire district. 

The arrows point to the area covered by the fire district 144 square miles, the red line is the area covered by the LMRFD ambulance 2200 square miles. The other blue area are all the fire districts in Mohave County. Our one ambulance covers more area than all the other ambulances in the county over 2000 square miles outside the fire district. 

I don't agree with the chief on many things, like letting Emergency Medical Responders assist by driving the ambulance. But a couple weeks ago I asked the chief to let me volunteer again. He fired me as a volunteer several years ago because I supported Mike Pettway for chief rather than him, but free speech is allowed last I checked. His personality conflicts with volunteers is a problem. To not allow someone to volunteer because he just doesn't like them is wrong and is not in the fire districts best interest

As you can see below, I have many hours of EMS and firefighting training. I'm too old to put on turnouts and rush into structure fires, but I can drive the brush truck and a tender to haul water. 

So when your home is burning or you need an ambulance and it takes too long for anyone to arrive, please ask the chief why people are not allowed to volunteer, ask why a volunteer EMR and a paid EMT can't provide a second ambulance. 

PLEASE my post on A Fire Districts primary obligation is to the residents who support the fire district through property taxes. 

Yes chief I do have the same paramedic training you do, and I know I not a certified any longer so you don't need to remind me every time it comes up. 

My Training by Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District 2018

Emergency Medical Responders 80 hours

EVOC Emergency Vehicle Operation 6 hours  

First Responder Orientation 16 hours

Emergency Communications NACFD Radio System Dispatch  

NACFD Safety Orientation 2 hours

Incident Rehab 2hours

 Water Tender Operations 2 hours 

Type 6 Engine Operations 6 hours  

Exterior Structural Firefighting 7 hours 

Hazmat First Responder Operations 16 hours  

Hazmat First Responder Operations-Decon 8 hours 

Fire Emergency Support Responder Training Phase I 22 hours 

L-180 Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service 1 hour  

IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System 3 hours  

NWCGS-110 Basic Wildland Fire Orientation 2 hours 

S-130 Wildland Firefighter Training (Classroom) 

IS-130 Wildland Firefighter Field Exercise 8 hours 

RT-130 Refresher Wildland Firefighter Annual Classroom 16 hours 

IS-131 Type 1 Firefighter 16 hours 

S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior 4 hours 

IS-200b Emergency Management Institute   

IS-200d Fundamentals of Emergency Management

NWCG S-110 Basic Wildland Orientation

NIMS 700 National Incident Management System 3 hours

EMS Training

Mobile Intensive Care Unit Paramedic Training Daniel Freeman Paramedic School 960-hour paramedic training program including training at USC Medical Center’s C-Booth, the birthplace of emergency medicine, so different than today This was c-booth when I trained at USC Medical Center Code Black the old days in Los Angeles County - special cut

 2016 CPR Adult, Pediatric, First Aid, AED Training

 2002 Arizona Crisis Response Crisis Team Training by Arizona State

 2003 40 Hour Crisis Intervention Basic Training Bullhead City Crisis Intervention Team

2003 Defensive Driver Training Course Bullhead City Police Department

 2018 American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) KRMC 

2018 Nationally Certified Emergency Medical Responder 80 hours Northern Arizona Consolidated Fire District

 2019 TIM Traffic Incident Management Arizona ADOT

2020 Train the Trainer Narcan Training to train EMTs and Law Enforcement on the use of Narcan

Industrial First aid with CPR 16-hour course taught by the American Red Cross, Spokane Washington

 Standard First Aid 8-hour course taught by the American Red Cross, Spokane Washington

 First Responder Montana 40-hour course taught by the Park County Sheriff Department, Livingston Montana

 CPR Instructor Spokane Washington American Red Cross CPR

 Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer

10-hour course taught by the Park County Sheriff Department at Livingston Montana

Advanced Cardiac Life Support 16-hour course taught by Daniel Freeman Paramedic School, Inglewood California 

Washington State Emergency Medical Technician 80-hour Basic EMT Training, Spokane Washington

 Rural Emergency Stabilization of Critical Patients 8-hour course taught by Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane Washington 

American Red Cross Damage Assessment Assessing damage to buildings and structures, the number of people needing help

Emergency Medical Services has Grown So Why Not Use Volunteer Layperson

Emergency medicine has grown since the 70's. 

So have the lifesaving medications EMT's and paramedics can give in the field, so have the lifesaving medications a layperson can give.

EMS has grown over the years, in the past life-saving medications for true medical emergencies like anaphylactic shock, sudden cardiac or an opioid overdose could only be administered by physicians. 

Then came paramedic programs where trained  who could give these lifesaving medications by paramedics. But we learned that in these true medical emergencies where minutes really mean the difference between life and death, even the 8-minute average EMS response is too slow. 

Today in many states including Arizona a layperson with can give Epinephrin for the allergic reactions of anaphylactic shock. This is a true medical emergency where 8 minutes can be too long, let alone 30 minutes to an hour.  

Today in Arizona anyone can give Narcan for an opioid overdose, and with a couple of hours of training an EMT or law enforcement officer can give Naloxone (Narcan) for an opioid overdose. This is a true medical emergency where time matters, and a volunteer can save a life.

Today in Arizona a layperson with a couple of hours of training can do CPR and use an AED (automatic defibrillator) in a sudden cardiac arrest. FACT Anything over 8-10 minutes and you're dead...

In these cases, 4 or 5 minutes can be too long, let alone 1-2 hours. 

Since EMT's and EMR's use BLS and don't do invasive procedures in the field, they obviously have less liability, not more. Sometimes the best patient care is simply rapid transport to definitive care.

In Arizona the law 36-2226 allows a layperson to give epinephrine in case of an allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock. If you want to learn more about anaphylactic shock check out First Aid for Free's Anaphylactic Awareness page

Narcan also known as Naloxone can also be given by a layperson.
Under A.R.S. § 36-2267, any person may administer an opioid antagonist, like naloxone, to a person who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose. The statute further states, "A person who does this in good faith and without compensation is not liable for any civil or other damages as the result of the act.” 

For more information on the Arizona laws on obtaining or administering Narcan click HERE

Here's more information on How to Recognize an Opioid Overdose

Under ARS 36-2229 the Community Center in Dolan Springs and the Meadview Civic Association could have a couple people trained on how to give breathing treatments in case of respiratory distress.

Everybody needs to know First Aid and CPR... Who ya gonna call?
Learn for FREE at First Aid for Free 

Arizona EMS Laws

Emergency Administration of Epinephrine by good Samaritans 

36-2226 Emergency administration of epinephrine by good Samaritans; exemption from civil liability

A. Notwithstanding any other law, a person may administer epinephrine to another person who is suffering from a severe allergic reaction if the person acts in good faith and without compensation for the act of administering the epinephrine and a health professional who is qualified to administer epinephrine is not immediately available.

B. A person who administers epinephrine pursuant to subsection A is not subject to civil liability for any injury that results from that act unless the person acts with gross negligence, wilful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.

36-2226.01 Emergency administration of epinephrine authorized entities prescriptions training immunity definitions

Physicians can prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors to an "authorized entity" That’s a school, restaurant, community center, camp, or place of employment where allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present.

Emergency administration of inhalers

36-2229. Emergency administration of inhalers; authorized entities; training; immunity; definitions

A. A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 or a nurse practitioner who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 may prescribe inhalers and spacers or holding chambers in the name of an authorized entity for use in accordance with this section, and pharmacists may dispense inhalers and spacers or holding chambers pursuant to a prescription issued in the name of an authorized entity. A prescription issued pursuant to this section is valid for two years.

B. An authorized entity may acquire and stock a supply of inhalers and spacers or holding chambers pursuant to a prescription issued in accordance with this section. The inhalers shall be stored in a location that is readily accessible in an emergency and in accordance with the inhaler's instructions for use. An authorized entity shall designate employees or agents who have completed the training required by subsection D of this section to be responsible for the storage, maintenance, control and general oversight of the inhalers and spacers or holding chambers acquired by the authorized entity.

C. If an employee or agent of an authorized entity or another individual who has completed the training required by subsection D of this section believes in good faith that an individual is experiencing respiratory distress, the employee, agent or other individual may provide and administer an inhaler to that individual or may provide an inhaler to the parent, guardian or caregiver of that individual, for immediate administration, regardless of whether the individual who is believed to be experiencing respiratory distress has a prescription for an inhaler and spacer or holding chamber or has previously been diagnosed with a condition requiring an inhaler.

D. An employee, agent or other individual described in subsection B or C of this section shall complete initial training for the use of inhalers and, at least every two years thereafter, shall complete subsequent training. The training shall be conducted by a nationally recognized organization that is experienced in training laypersons in emergency health treatment. Training may be conducted online or in person and, at a minimum, shall cover:

1. How to recognize signs and symptoms of respiratory distress.

2. Standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an inhaler.

3. Emergency follow-up procedures after the administration of an inhaler.

E. The organization that conducts the training required by subsection D of this section shall issue a certificate to each person who successfully completes the training.

F. The administration of an inhaler pursuant to this section is not the practice of medicine or any other profession that otherwise requires licensure.

G. Physicians licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 and nurse practitioners licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 who prescribe an inhaler and spacer or holding chamber in the name of an authorized entity, authorized entities and employees and agents of authorized entities that provide or administer inhalers and organizations that provide training pursuant to subsection D of this section are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions or omissions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this section, except in cases of gross negligence, wilful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.

H. The immunity from civil liability provided in subsection G of this section does not affect a manufacturer's product liability regarding the design, manufacturing or instructions for use of an inhaler and spacer or holding chamber.

I. An authorized entity may accept monetary donations to purchase inhalers and spacers or holding chambers and may accept donations of inhalers and spacers or holding chambers directly from the product manufacturer.

J. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Authorized entity" means any entity or organization in connection with or at which allergens capable of causing respiratory distress symptoms may be present, including recreation camps, day care facilities, youth sports leagues, amusement parks, restaurants and sports arenas.

2. "Bronchodilator" means albuterol or another short-acting bronchodilator that is approved by the United States food and drug administration for the treatment of respiratory distress.

3. "Inhaler" means a device that delivers a bronchodilator to alleviate symptoms of respiratory distress, that is manufactured in the form of a metered-dose inhaler or dry-powder inhaler and that includes a spacer or holding chamber that attaches to the inhaler to improve the delivery of the bronchodilator.

4. "Respiratory distress" includes the perceived or actual presence of coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath.