VILLAS- Lower Township now has an advanced life support paramedic unit stationed at the Erma Volunteer Fire Company station known as Medic 5.
Township Manager Michael Voll said he has been negotiating for several months with Atlanticare to house a Medic unit at the Erma Volunteer Fire Company station to enhance emergency medical services working along with Lower Township Rescue Squad.
Jim Kilmer, assistant vice president for clinical services for Atlanticare, said Medic 5 would respond to 9-1-1- calls including heart attacks, stroke symptoms and motor vehicle crashes with a serious injury. He said Atlanticare was the state designated advanced life support provider with units stationed throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties.
Kilmer said the Medic 5 paramedics provide medical care as directed by an emergency room doctor including starting IV lines, giving medication and advanced respiratory support.
He thanked the Erma Fire Company for welcoming Medic 5 to its station.
“Our volumes have been tremendous so far,” said Kilmer. “We are averaging more than 40 calls a week out of that location.”
Councilman Tom Conrad, who is also a Lower Township Rescue Squad captain, said having Medic 5 in the township would cut response time to calls from five to 10 minutes.
“This is a great step up that will help either save lives or in the case of a stroke, the chance of reversing the affects in quicker time,” he said.
Conrad said the county now has three Medic units in the county during summer.
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