GRFD begins basic life support, elevating its service to the community

GRFD begins basic life support, elevating its service to the community

Published on October 10, 2024

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Emergency Medical Services (MDHHS EMS) Division has licensed the Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD) as a Non-Transport Prehospital Basic Life Support (BLS) Agency. The GRFD began responding as a BLS agency in September.

Mark Fankhauser, battalion chief of emergency medical services (EMS) with the Grand Rapids Fire Department, said, "This licensure upgrade enables Fire Department emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to deliver critical non-transport prehospital basic life support services to the citizens and visitors of Grand Rapids, enhancing its ability to save lives and provide emergency care prior to the arrival of advanced life support transport-capable ambulance services.

"It is a great privilege and honor to upgrade our license as a BLS agency. I know that we are providing a great level of care to our citizens, visitors and guests."

Non-transport prehospital Basic Life Support is a set of life-saving medical procedures performed in the early stages of an emergency to patients who need continuous medical supervision and monitoring. The goal is to simply maintain the life functions of a person who is having a medical emergency, like cardiac arrest or respiratory failure by utilizing advanced airway management and authorized medication, until more advanced medical care can be provided.

Fire Chief Brad Brown explained that the GRFD always operated as a Medical First Response (MFR) agency. As the team that arrives on-scene first more than 90% of the time, it assesses the emergency, provides the appropriate care, identifies additional items that are necessary and then informs its ALS partners - American Medical Response and Life EMS - before transport. He said the department worked on the transition from MFR to BLS for the last two years and is excited to offer this enhanced service to community members and visitors of Grand Rapids.

"We run about 25,000 alarms in the city each year and about 17,000 (or 68%) are medical related, so I know that we already do a very good job of taking care of our citizens from the time we arrive until the time ALS or Advanced life support arrives and transports to the hospital. This licensure upgrade will further advance our exceptional service and effectiveness of our on-scene response."

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