FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dammeron Valley, UT – October 8, 2024 – Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue (DVFR) announces its advancement to Paramedic-level services, marking a significant milestone in the agency’s capabilities and the emergency medical services (EMS) available to the southern SR-18 communities DVFR serves. The elevation to the agency’s medical license allows DVFR to provide the highest level of pre-hospital emergency care while continuing to coordinate with existing transport partners to move patients as quickly as possible to the hospital.
Assistant Chief and Director of EMS for DVFR, Colleen Homer, expressed enthusiasm for the department’s growth, stating, “Achieving Paramedic-level services allows us to offer critical, life-saving interventions that can make a significant impact on outcomes when administered as quickly as possible. This milestone reflects the dedication and professionalism of DVFR’s members and the department’s commitment to serving the residents of Dammeron Valley and the surrounding SR-18 communities.”
DVFR becomes the only non-transport Paramedic licensed agency in the county equipped to handle complex emergencies on-scene. This upgrade significantly reduces response times for critical care and improves outcomes for patients suffering from heat attacks, strokes, severe injuries, and other medical emergencies. Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District Board Chair, Ryan Andersen, stated, “DVFR has invested in additional training, certifications, and state-of-the-art medical equipment to meet the demands of providing these advanced medical services. Our Paramedics will now be able to administer life-saving drugs, perform advanced cardiac monitoring, and manage patients requiring immediate interventions prior to hospital transport.”
DVFR completed a months-long application and review process to successfully acquire the Paramedic-level license. The department provided the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) with extensive documentation regarding its capabilities and staffing, letters of support from other agencies and the department’s Medical Director, and a documented plan for delivering the new service. After a review of the application and documentation, a public comment period, and vehicle inspections, DVFR was awarded the new license.
DVFR’s advancement to Paramedic services reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to community safety and health. This step forward is part of the department’s long-term strategic plan, known as Vision 2030, to continually elevate the quality of care and service provided to Dammeron Valley and the surrounding communities.
“Four years ago, the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District and DVFR leadership set out to transform the department into a capable and reliable fire and EMS agency that could deliver timely, consistent, and best-in-class service to rural Washington County,” shared DVFR Fire Chief, John Hennessey. “We implemented Vision 2030 with a focus on continually elevating the service DVFR provides, which resulted in progression to Advanced Life Support-level care in 2022 and now Paramedic-level care in less than three years. Paramedic-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a threshold Key Performance Parameter for DVFR and achieving this milestone in such a short period of time took herculean efforts by the membership and the District. PaaS is now an inherent part of our mission Operational Imperatives.”
The new level of service is effective immediately, which means DVFR’s Paramedic members will now deliver the advanced care during medical responses. DVFR roster includes seven licensed Paramedics, and the department continues to recruit new members with the certifications required to deliver the higher level of emergency care. “As we achieved this Vision 2030 objective, we now turn our attention to continuous improvement of our multi-jurisdictional response that everyone along the southern SR-18 corridor will benefit from,” finished Chief Hennessey.
For more information about the services provided by Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue, please visit the department’s website at www.dvfirerescue.org.
Media Contact:
Hunter Wolfe
Public Information Officer
Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue
+1-435-574-8102
About Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue (DVFR)
Dammeron Valley Fire & Rescue is a combination department that provides structural and wildland fire prevention and protection services to the residents of Dammeron Valley, Utah. Additionally, the department provides Emergency Medical Services to a 110 square mile area of rural Washington County, Utah. The department operates under the charter of the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District. For information, please visit www.dvfirerescue.org and www.dvfrssd.org.
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