The partnership stems from an ordinance by the Government of the Federal District that established the pre-hospital care service.<\/p>\n
A new partnership between the Mobile Emergency Medical Service (Samu) and the Fire Department will make 20 additional vehicles available to the population of the Federal District for the mobile care of Covid-19 patients. Public servants received training last Friday (10) and will begin the new service to the public this Monday (13).<\/p>\n
The partnership stems from a decree by the Government of the Federal District that established the pre-hospital care service. Twenty properly equipped fire department vehicles will be made available to the Health Department for two types of care for Covid-19 patients: one for advanced support, dedicated to severe patients who need transport to an ICU bed, and another dedicated to those discharged from these beds who still require medical monitoring.<\/p>\n
With this, it is expected to provide greater speed to care and expedite the vacation of beds. \u201cWe entered a very intense level of transport and the structure became overloaded,\u201d says the director of SAMU, Alexandre Garcia.<\/p>\n
With the partnership, according to him, the firefighters will help us drain patients from hospitals and basic health units (UBSs), thereby allowing for greater fluidity in patient movement, moving them out of ICUs, increasing bed availability, and accommodating other patients who need these beds.<\/p>\n
With the partnership, the Federal District's mobile service fleet was almost doubled, going from 38 vehicles to 58 vehicles.<\/p>\n
Last Friday (10), 36 military personnel participated in a training session with doctors, nurses, and nursing technicians from Samu. During the training, the firefighters received instruction on mechanical ventilation, cardioversion and defibrillation, intubation of patients with the coronavirus, transport of children, and how to put on and take off Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).<\/p>\n
In addition to the vehicles, the Fire Department also assigned doctors and drivers from the corporation to this response. For Colonel Joston Alves, the partnership helps contribute to the mission of the Fire Department.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see it as another way of fulfilling our mission, which is to help the population in this time of crisis. Our doctors are also specialists, but they need to be up to date to practice, she states.<\/p>\n