Fire Department

The City of Marshfield began an improved level of Emergency Medical Services when the present paramedic level was placed on-line on July 15, 1996.  The department officially began operating with twelve paramedics on three shifts.  The department now has twenty paramedics on three shifts including one paramedic in charge of daily operations of the department's Emergency Medical Services Program.

The paramedic level of service allows the department to offer a wide variety of services to its citizens including Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), IV therapy, external cardiac pacing, synchronized cardio version, endotracheal intubation, and specific drug therapies.  Certifications held by these paramedics include Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neo-natal Advanced Life Support (NALS), and Basic Trauma Life Support - Advanced (BTLS-Advanced).

The remaining members of this department are all state licensed Emergency Medical Technicians - Basic (EMT-B).  These EMT's are able to provide cardiac defibrillation, advanced airway (combi-tube), epinephrine administration, and selected medication assistance.  The EMT's are now able to administer glucagon, nebulized albuterol, and aspirin to those patients who need it. The City of Marshfield will always have this as the basic level of service available to the community. In addition to the training requirements of the EMT-Basic, some of the department's members have completed advanced courses such as Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP), and others.  

The State of Wisconsin requires that two paramedics be present on an ambulance to operate as a paramedic unit.  The department has received approval from the State for a single paramedic to operate at an Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate (EMT-I) level.  This will allow the use of IV therapy, selected drug therapy, first line cardiac medications, manual defibrillation, and blood glucose testing.  This has allowed our department to offer multiple levels of services to our patients at all times, but they only have to pay for the level of service needed and received.  

The Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department is continuing to participate with area technical schools by providing ride along experience for EMT's, paramedics and respiratory therapists in training.  This program allows the students to learn from our ambulance crews and experience firsthand those skills they are learning in school.

Contact D/C Haight.