With New Unit, Fla. Island Now Has Constant Paramedic Coverage

Sept. 22--ANNA MARIA ISLAND -- Over the Emergency Medical Services radio system, Karen Windon put Manatee County's new Quick Response Unit into service Monday morning.

"Paramedic Rescue Unit Squad 4 is now officially in service," the deputy county administrator announced on the vehicle's radio system.

The new unit is the first of its kind in Florida. Manatee County officials had the ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for the new Quick Response Vehicle, which began its calls about two weeks ago. (The original unveiling had been postponed after the possibility arose of Tropical Storm Erika hitting Manatee.)

"This is a new adventure for us here in Manatee County," said Bob Smith, the county's public safety department director. County Administrator Ed Hunzeker, commissioners

Carol Whitmore and John Chappie, and Marine Rescue and EMS personnel were among those present at Monday's ceremony, which was held at the Marine Rescue Building in Bradenton Beach.

"The whole intent of this unit is to never leave the island," EMS Chief Steve Krivjanik said.

"Any time when the transport unit has to take the patient to the hospital, there will always be paramedic service on the island. We found this to be a gap in service, and we want to make sure we serve the community to the best of our ability."

The unit, which is a pilot project, patrols the beaches with a marine rescue paramedic trained in lifeguarding proficiency, according to a county document. The unit will offer Advanced Life Support.

"It's almost been nonstop, these guys responding to waterborne emergencies or other medical emergencies," Smith said. "They have been doing steady work. They have been doing good work."

Whenever the ambulance based in Holmes Beach has to leave the island, the marine paramedic rescue unit will then move to the midpoint of the island, according to Marine Rescue Paramedic Alex Flores, who is one of two full-time paramedics operating the new unit, which operates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

There are also three part-time paramedics.

Starting Monday, the hours the county's lifeguard stands are manned also were changed to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Every week, the unit sends a report to the department to be able to constantly make adjustments to the new program, Flores said.

"We are going to do this until we get it perfected," Flores said. "It's important to me that this works."

To create the unit, which the department wanted to operate with existing resources and within existing budget restrictions, Smith said they cross-trained the county's paramedics to serve as ocean rescue lifeguards.

"It alleviates a lot of the problems we have with traffic flow on the island, getting on and off the island," Smith said. "It helps us provide additional level of support for our one ambulance in Holmes Beach, and it helps us provide additional level of service for our beach lifeguards. There's a lot of benefit to this project."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

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