EMS Rescue

The Plantation Fire Department’s EMS Division began its service to the residents of Plantation in 1996. The EMS Division provides advanced life support (ALS) emergency services within the City of Plantation, operating five rescue trucks that are staffed 24 hours a day by paramedics and EMTs.

Command Staff

The Plantation Fire Department's EMS Division stands as an indispensable pillar of the community, dedicated to safeguarding lives during medical emergencies. With a steadfast commitment to public safety, this division plays a vital role in providing immediate medical assistance and pre-hospital care to those in need. As an integral part of the Plantation Fire Department, the EMS Division ensures a swift and effective response to emergencies, collaborating closely with other emergency response agencies. With highly trained personnel equipped with the latest knowledge and skills, along with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, the Plantation Fire Department's EMS Division stands ready to deliver critical care when it matters most.

All medical care and procedures are provided under the direction of Dr. Jaroslaw “Jerry” Parkolap, Plantation Fire Department’s Medical Director using the latest EMS Protocols.

Heart related diseases remain the number one killer of Americans. Early recognition and rapid treatment are the keys to surviving a heart attack. Plantation paramedics use advanced ECG assessment tools to determine quickly whether or not someone is having a heart attack.

Once the determination is made, treatment is begun and the 12 lead ECG (just like in a doctor’s office) is transmitted wirelessly to Westside Regional Medical Center, where a team of cardiac specialists is standing by to receive the patient. By transmitting a 12 lead ahead of the patient, time in the Emergency room is significantly reduced thereby shortening the time a patient is delivered to definitive, interventional care.

When a patient isn’t breathing paramedics are trained to insert a tube into their throat to assist them. This is called intubation. Intubation is one of the most challenging skills a paramedic learns. Perfecting this skill requires a great deal of practice. And, if done wrong can have disastrous results.

Plantation’s paramedics use a device which provides a video screen where they can see deep inside a subject’s throat during intubation. This allows the paramedics to perform the skill quickly and efficiently as well as significantly reduce the risk of errors.

Plantation’s EMS Division has always prided itself on providing its citizens with the latest in advances in EMS Technology. Most recently the EMS Division has deployed portable ultrasound systems, similar to those used in hospitals and physician’s offices to see deep inside the human body.

Field application of ultrasound technology allows paramedics to rapidly identify sites of serious injuries, internal bleeding, cardiac function, and even find hidden veins for starting IVs.

Not very long ago, if a patient developed stroke-like symptoms they were left to be observed to see if the symptoms subsided or got worse.

Today, with advanced knowledge and interventions, Plantation’s paramedics are trained to recognize early stroke symptoms, try to identify where the stroke is occurring and how advanced it is, then provide treatment and transport to definitive care where critical care and advanced techniques can, in many cases, restoring patient function to pre-stroke levels.

Carbon Monoxide is known as the “Silent Killer.” It’s a colorless, odorless gas. And when exposed to it, a person slowly drifts off to sleep and then dies. Exposure to CO can also have ill effects hours after the exposure. For this reason, Plantation’s paramedics monitor CO levels in a patient’s blood stream in an attempt to recognize CO poisoning early and treat it before it has damaging effects.

Don Todd

Fire Chief

Leslie Ethridge

EMS Battalion Chief

Iraldo Curbelo

EMS Battalion Chief

Victor Delarosa

EMS Battalion Chief

Ashley Dunham

EMS Battalion Chief