SUNDAY - The Opportunity To Work With Fire-EMS-Law Enforcement In Emergencies

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Dec 24 2018 9:42 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    Both through my professions with Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management and www.rickeystokesnews.com, as former Chairman and now Board Member of Dothan-Houston County Communications District ( 911 for all of Dothan-Houston County ) I have the unique opportunity to work with the emergency services throughout Dothan-Houston County.

My role with Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management is to work close with the volunteer emergency services in Houston County. Working under the management of Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah.

For 30 years I have done the sound system at Memphis Baptist Church. Once the Pastor starts the message it is auto pilot on the sound unless there is an issue. And people to take the reigns should I have to leave.

On Sunday a medical emergency, pendent activation, on Willie Varnum Road. Something said I should respond to assist Cottonwood Rescue, of which I serve as Captain.

I left church and responded and a lady fell and had a possible broken hip. She was in a small hallway with a severe injury and in extreme pain. Cottonwood Rescue did a great job. They requested mutual aid assistance from Dothan Fire Engine 4 for advanced life support. Dothan Fire can administer medications and perform a higher level of service.

Dothan Fire Engine 4, under the command of Captain Phillip Anderson responded. Dothan Fire arrived as the ambulance and patient were leaving the driveway. Dothan Fire boarded the ambulance, administered advanced life care, and off to the hospital they went.

But I was pleased with the performance of Cottonwood Ambulance and the support from Dothan Fire Department and Captain Anderson's team members.

It is indeed a great pleasure to work hand in hand with the volunteers and the men and women of Dothan Fire Department.

LATER IN THE DAY AFTER CHURCH...  

As I was leaving WalMart South Houston County Sheriff 911 dispatched Rehobeth Fire-Rescue to a residence in Olympia Hills. The call was a male fell and within seconds Houston County 911 reported person possibly not breathing. I responded to the scene to assist Rehobeth Rescue.

Rehobeth Fire-Rescue did what they were suppose to. When a call exceeds your level of training, possibly needing advanced life support, Rehobeth Fire-Rescue called mutual aid assistance from Dothan Fire Engine 2 to respond. The person was not breathing and CPR was in progress. Between Rehobeth Fire-Rescue and Dothan Fire Engine 2 under the command of Captain Marty Snell, every possible measure was taken to save this man's life. But the medical people are not the final authority of the outcome, GOD is in sovereign control.

The gentleman was transported by Rehobeth Rescue with Dothan Fire Medics on board to a Dothan hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Houston County Sheriff Deputies ministered to the man's wife while the EMS staff were doing all within their powers to save the man's life.

THEN LATER...

Houston County Sheriff 911 dispatched Wicksburg Fire-Rescue and Bay Springs Fire to a structure fire on Hubbard Road. Within seconds Wicksburg Volunteer Fireman Broc Collins was on the scene and giving reports of the scene as other fireman/women and fire equipment were rolling.

It was not an actual structure fire. The fire units checked it out and got everything under control within minutes of arrival. Houston County Sheriff Deputy Jim Pike responded.

MY RESPONSE...

My response to these three calls was in my role with Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management. These calls, my role was to assist the responding agencies with what they needed, manpower, and coordinate mutual aid response with what symptoms were presented to the EMS units on the scene, and response route in order to make sure should the ambulance leave prior to mutual aid assistance arrival, the ambulance departs the scene and travels a route to meet the mutual aid.

But in working with and watching the unpaid professionals and paid professionals, I was proud to be able to work hand in hand with the men and women who serve. Each, whether they are paid full time such as Dothan, or not such as Cottonwood, Rehobeth and Wicksburg, they all work with one common goal and purpose, to save lives.

And on Sunday, Cottonwood Rescue, Rehobeth Rescue, Dothan Fire Engine  (4 Phillip Anderson crew ) and Dothan Fire Engine 2 ( Marty Snell crew ), and Wicksburg Fire-Rescue under the command of Chief Wanda Andress, they did an outstanding job in working to save lives.

THANK YOU to all who work emergency services, Police-Sheriff-Fire-EMS. You do a great job and do things daily the public have no idea.

And the most important of all of these, Police-Sheriff-Fire-EMS is the backbone of the system. The 911 Communications Staff. The men and women who work in the 911 Centers, those who take the call, give life saving instructions, roll the necessary equipment to handle the task, inform those responding of what they know...they are the unsung heroes. It is their dedication and devotion to the public, the Police-Sheriff-Fire-EMS- Utility responders that begin the life saving measures.

We have a great staff that operates the 911 Centers. And it has indeed been the highlight of my years to work with these as former Chairman of the 911 Board and now as a Board Member. Also through the opportunity given to me by Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah to work the emergency services.

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