FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Paul Filla, Public Information Officer
                      (239) 344-5406 office, (239) 930-0438 pager

LEE COUNTY EMS FIELDS TWO NON-TRANSPORT MEDICS

Ft. Myers, Fla. (October 7, 2004) - Lee County EMS in partnership with the Pine Island and Alva Fire Districts have improved medical emergency response to residents and visitors in those areas. Earlier this month, Lee County EMS placed a paramedic with advance life support equipment in St. James City and Alva stations to respond onboard fire apparatus to begin rendering advanced aid when necessary.

The EMS paramedic will respond with their assigned unit on all types of calls, EMS & Fire and will be dispatched through the respective Fire Department. Lee County telecommunications will simultaneously dispatch an ambulance for any patient requiring transport to a local hospital. EMS stations the paramedic in Alva at 2660 Styles Road with the closest ambulance at EMS station 11, 10941 Palm Beach Boulevard in east Fort Myers, an approximate 11- mile distance. EMS fields the paramedic in St. James City at 5051 Stringfellow Road with the closest transport station at EMS station 10, 5700 Pine Island Road in Pine Island, an approximate nine mile distance. In 2003, fire personnel at Alva station 1 responded to more than 340 calls and fire personnel at Pine Island station 2 responded to more than 360 calls.

"Placing Lee County paramedics on local district fire trucks is an example of Lee County EMS embodying the Board of Commissioners commitment to ensure core levels of advance life support EMS care across the county. This is another example of strategic partnering between Lee County EMS and local fire districts and departments," Chief Chris Hansen said.

Other EMS / Fire partnerships include, Sanibel Fire District, Iona McGregor Fire District, City of Fort Myers Fire Department and City of Cape Coral Fire Department.