City of Fall River Emergency Medical Services

The following is a history of Emergency Medical Services and its inception into the Fall River Fire Department.

• 1966 A research paper titled “Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society”. It was discussed in the paper the state of emergency medical care in the United States. The authors cited the large number of preventable deaths and disabilities that were occurrin

g in this country, and listed a number of reasons why the situation existed. The finger was pointed at the people providing emergency care. The paper recommended that a standard minimum level of training be developed and implemented.
• 1973 The Emergency Medical Service System Act. This enacted many of the recommendations of the 1966 research paper. It specifically identified standardized training for pre-hospital personnel as an essential goal of the EMS system and the responsibility for developing training programs was placed on the department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT was chosen for this responsibility because of the emphasis from the 1966 paper on highway related injuries. Within the DOT, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evolved.
• 1973 National Curriculum. A standardized course was developed for pre-hospital care, and was called the EMT-Ambulance. This course soon created new Federal grant programs for states to develop EMS systems. This prompted most states to adopt the DOT national standard EMT training program.
• 1974 State of Massachusetts adopts National Curriculum, and initiates training throughout the Commonwealth under the leadership of Fall River Fire Chief Louis Shea.
• 1974 Hussey Hospital transfers its Ambulance and four drivers to the Fall River Fire Department. Ambulance drivers were not certified EMT’s at this time
• 1974 City of Fall River receives first state issued Ambulance license.
• 1975 August. Fire Department launches its EMS program, and purchases 2 Modular Ambulances. Placed into service September 1, 1975.
• 1975 September City hires its first certified civilian EMT’s and teams these individuals with current Fire Fighter staff.
• 1975 A supervisor position is created and Richard Robillard is appointed Director of EMS.
• 1976 January. In coordination with St Anne’s Hospital, a Mobile Cardiac Nurse program is placed into action. Nurses from local ER would respond to certain Cardiac calls with EMT’s.
• 1977. Fire Department retrieves $40,000 in revenue from Ambulance calls.
• 1978 Charlton Hospital initiates “Mission of Mercy” program. A nurse would respond with EMT’s for all entrapments.
• 1978 Two (2) Senior EMT positions created. Two Senior EMT’s would have the responsibility of overseeing the ambulances. They were assigned to a vehicle and responsible for responding to medical calls. This assured Supervisory coverage 50% of the time.
• 1980 Advanced Airway Management program. Esophageal Obturator Airway. This advance airway maneuver was the start of advance care by local EMT’s.
• 1982 National Emergency Medical Service week established
• 1983 Fire Department sends eight EMT’s for Intermediate EMT certification and advanced care training. City fails to up-grade ambulance license.
• 1985 Immunization program started for Hepatitis B. Health Department acquires vaccination and administers serum.
• 1985 the Principal EMT position was created. Current Senior EMT Ralph St. Pierre was promoted to the Principal EMT and assigned to the EMS office.
• 1987 Robert Turgeon promoted to Senior-EMT filling vacancy.
• 1990 September Defibrillation program begins. All EMT’s are required to be certified in Semi-Automatic External Defibrillators (SAED). Fire Department purchases 2 SAED for Medical Rescue’s, and placed in-service December of 1990.
• 1992 May. Fire Department makes decision to send EMT’s to Paramedic school. Places third Medical Rescue in-service, and hires 8 area Paramedics.
• 1992 October 4, 1992. First Paramedic emergency response (Rescue 4)
• 1993 EMT’s complete Paramedic training.
• 1993 OCTOBER 28 John Ferland promoted to Principal EMT creating third office position.
• 1996 (May) Principal-EMT Ralph St. Pierre retires
• 1996 (June) Robert Turgeon(Paramedic) promoted to Basic Principal-EMT
• 1998 One Principal EMT position up-graded to Paramedic
• 1999 Richard Robillard retires as Director.
• 1999 John Ferland assigned as Acting Director of EMS

• 1999 Only two office staff personnel at this time. Basic Principal Position never filled. Remaining are One A/Director of EMS and one Principal-EMT Paramedic.
• 1999 Second Paramedic unit placed in service (Rescue 2)
• 2000 Fire Fighters at the First Responder level train and receive certification for Automatic External Defibrillators. AED’s placed on all fire apparatus. EMS division responsible for training and up keep of AED’s
• 2002 March. Finalization of ALS care initiated. Third Medical Rescue up-graded to Intermediate level of service.
• July 2002 A/Director John Ferland reitires with 5 year incentive. His old job title of Principal EMT is abolished as part of early retirement.
• August 1, 2002 Robert Turgeon appointed as A/Director of EMS
• August 1, 2002 John Duclos takes over as A/Principal Paramedic.
• February 2003 Robert Turgeon promoted to Director of EMS. John Duclos promoted to Principal EMT Paramedic
• July 26, 2004 Fourth Medical Rescue placed is-service. All Medical Rescue Units are now at the Paramedic Level of service.
• November 2004. All four ambulances staffed with a Senior Paramedic.