The Phil Campbell
Rescue Squad...
Serving their community in a
different way!
Over the years, Falcon Direct has specialized in serving the needs of those who serve others.
In this capacity, we have noted that money trickles down with law
enforcement traditionally receiving the most, then paid fire departments and
ambulance services followed by volunteer fire departments, and dead last –
rescue squads!
We have always had a great deal
of respect for those who give their time as rescue squad volunteers and marveled
at the resourcefulness that allows them to do so much with so little.
Some exhibit high levels of administrative capabilities coupled with
operational skills, community interaction, and innovation.
One of those deserving special recognition is the Phil Campbell Rescue
Squad, and in particular the implementation of a new system called The Button!
Historically, volunteer rescue
squads have been formed in rural communities where patient transport and medical
treatment facilities are lacking. The
people who make up these organizations rarely receive the recognition of other Public
Safety agencies but they are typically more involved in life and death
situations than either law enforcement or fire fighting.
Unfortunately, the operations
cost for rescue activities is often equal to or greater than that of other
public safety activities. This
means that to maintain effectiveness, there have to be financial resources.
Grants have historically been all but non-existent, public support has
been minimal, and there is only so much that can be done with traditional fund
raising. The conclusion is that the
money must come from PAID transport activities.
The Phil Campbell Rescue Squad
(PCRS) provides the fastest response to medical calls of any provider in their
area. Why?
Because they are there! Unlike
public commercial ambulance services that may not have a transport vehicle
within 30 miles, PCRS has the ability to typically be on the scene within 5
minutes or less. With this
capability, you would think that anyone needing medical transport services would
first call PCRS. Unfortunately,
that has not always been the case.
Barry Pounders, President of
PCRS decided he would do something to change the situation.
Barry recognized that one of the primary delays in obtaining prompt
medical response were the procedures involved with processing a call through
911. While these procedures are
necessary to properly handle calls from the general public, they can delay
response times from those who have some medical knowledge and simply need help
in a hurry.
Armed with this information, Barry contacted Dr. Keith Morrow of the Phil Campbell Medical Clinic with a proposal to provide The Button as a means of INSTANTLY contacting the PCRS in the event of an emergency. With The Button installed in the clinic treatment room, the clinic staff could summon transport service with no dialing delays, no dispatch center intervention, nothing to say and nothing to do except push The Button!
The
Button, shown here, is a battery powered voice annunciating transmitter that
operates completely independently of the clinic AC power.
In simple terms, pressing the button instantly transmits a voice message
to all PCRS squad members via their two-way radios.
The message is transmitted twice automatically.
The message can be changed by the PCRS as desired with no special tools
required. Currently the message is
programmed to broadcast the message - Emergency Medical at PCM Clinic.
Upon receipt, available members
respond within minutes. Two of the
PCRS squad members, Melissa Moore and Barbara King live nearby and respond with
Rescue 76, normally parked between their homes!
If a larger vehicle is required, Rescue 75, lovingly known as Barry’s
Box (See picture below) is sent from the PCRS Operations Center.
Speaking of an Operations
Center, the folks at the left are busy at work doing BILLING! That's
Melissa Moore on the left and Barry Pounders on the right. The PCRS operations
center is generally manned by volunteers during the day.
It goes without saying that the folks of PCRS have put a lot of work into
their squad and they have been doing it for a long time.
Barbara King has been a member since 1988 and she is still going strong.
Her husband, now deceased, was involved with the squad since the
beginning.
Anyway – Barry’s idea was
that PCRS would place The Button in the clinic at no charge to the
clinic. Instead of dialing an out of town ambulance service, or 911,
the clinic staff would only need to push the red button to summon transport
service. In many cases the patient
is picked up and transported to nearby hospitals in Haleyville or Russellville
quicker than a commercial transport vehicle can arrive at the clinic!
To
say that The Button has been a success would be a mild understatement.
Within just a short time after being installed, PCRS received an ALS
(Advanced Life Support) call. This
one run more than paid for the cost of The Button.
When personnel at the clinic needs medical transport service, they know
they can get it quickly at the push of a button.
This is a win-win situation for the patient (faster transport to an
advanced treatment facility), for the clinic with more efficient procedures, and
for PCRS who can generate the vitally needed income for providing rescue
services in rural northwest Alabama.
Installation of The Button
has now been made at the local High School with plans to add another unit at the
elementary school. Who knows?
In time, everyone in Phil Campbell may have The Button!
Is the Phil Campbell Rescue Squad a little different?
You bet it is! Can others do
the same thing? You bet they can,
and we hope they do!
For additional information on The Button, contact:
Falcon Direct
Phone 1-800-489-2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com
About the author:
Burch Falkner has been involved
in serving the needs of
public safety users for over 40 years. As
a former City of
Birmingham fireman, and advisor to a number of fire and
rescue departments, he specializes in working with volunteer
agencies throughout the United States.
