Many of you have been aware of this pilot program in the works, others not.  As of Tuesday, February 21, 2012, through a Press Release jointly announced by Eastside Fire and Rescue partnering with Public Health of Seattle and King County in the creation of a Community Medical Technician (CMT) to the Issaquah, WA area. 

You ask what is a CMT and what do they do?  What is the purpose of this study and who does it really benefit?  Good questions and here is the scoop on the matter.  According to the announcement, a CMT is a single skilled firefighter/EMT that will “respond”  in a Ford Escape Hybrid lightly equipped vehicle to non-emergency calls. What may constitute as a non-emergency call you ask?  It is generally listed as a fall patient, a person whom may have no insurance that needs medical help or someone requesting slip-proofing their home, amongst other “non-emergency” reasons.

There are many questions swirling in my head and this may stir the pot a little, but what happens if a single firefighter (CMT) finds a combative family member and is unable to control the situation or if a single firefighter finds a fall patient, how would he or she be able to “lift” this person up if alone?  I have heard some say the nursing homes don’t want to lift the patient for fear of possibly causing injury therefore call the Fire Department for assistance, as they have the skills and knowledge to properly lift the person back up.  What happens if a person is contacted by the CMT only to find that he or she is having a heart attack losing precious time because the caller was unable to state if the person had the “signs”?

It is with realization that costs are going up and funding being reduced with the end results of firefighters being laid off or in some instances, fire departments being literally wiped out.  Luckily for us here in King County and Seattle, we are more than fortunate.   However, this pilot program which began in the month of February will I’m sure may be the thing that all local Fire Stations will be watching as a possible way to reduce costs, but at what cost to the public? 

One skilled firefighter, no matter how great he or she may be could be walking into a dangerous situation like being shot or into a domestic violence situation.  Who save him or her if they are hurt.  Many discussions have been swirling around on Facebook, that two is better than one.  Some people have begged, to please…send two in.

It will be interesting to see what the study finds.  Some sources say it was also done in South King County last year but with two firefighters.  Now, they are trying it with just one? 

Let’s hear your comments or what you think?

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