The "Fire-Rescue" in East Jefferson Fire Rescue refers to more than the rope rescue, car extrication, or trench rescue that we train in.  Rescue also refers to 911 medical emergencies where a patient's survival depends on an immediate, medically trained response team.  In fact medical calls make up over 80 percent of what we do at EJFR.   We’re staffed 24 hours a day to provide a critical link in the "Chain of Survival" for sick or injured patients.  The three staffed stations in EJFR’s district ensure that citizens receive quality emergency care within minutes of calling 911.

Fire Departments have provided EMS services since the Middle Ages.  The symbol of the fire service, the Maltese Cross, originates from the Knights of Malta, who helped treat burn victims from battles during the Crusades.  Today this legacy continues as every firefighter at East Jefferson Fire Rescue completes Emergency Medical training ranging from First Aid, First Responder then up to EMT Basic Level, EMT Intermediate and the most advanced level as Paramedic.  Our Paramedics bring the emergency room to you in a pre-hospital setting and can administer many drugs and medical tests to help treat your emergency before you get to the emergency room in the hospital.  This time saving is vital for treatment of trauma, cardiac and stroke care when every minute of intervention counts towards improving long term outcomes.

If a patient needs more advanced care than Jefferson General can provide, our providers transport patients to the best facility prescribed for the patient's condition.  It is not unusual for our department to send multiple transports to Seattle on a daily basis to the larger, more specialized hospitals like Harborview, Swedish or Virginia Mason.  We have a designated transport ambulance with advanced life support equipment specifically designed for long ground transports.  Soon our Paramedics will be advancing their training with CCEMTP training to serve as Critical Care Paramedics for even more advanced care on these lengthy transports.

Some medical emergencies require the rapid transport that can only be provided by a helicopter flight.  These are usually supplied by Airlift Northwest but in special circumstances are done by the Navy or United States Coast Guard.  Our department sets up landing zones and fire protection for these landings at the hospital, airport and in field locations throughout our district depending on the location of the patient.

An EMT Basic class is given at the Fire Station in Chimacum by our instructor Paramedic Schumann through Peninsula College.  This class usually occurs in the Spring.  An ILS class is frequently given in the Fall at the same location.  Contact rschumann@ejfr.org for more information.         A friends and family CPR class is offered monthly at the Port Townsend Station.  Go back to the Public Education page of this web site for more information.