On April 3, Spokane Valley Fire Department launched Medic 7, a single emergency medical services (EMS) unit to respond to lower severity medical calls. The unit will operate for a six-month trial period.

EMT Ian Sutherland and Paramedic Sean Nokes staff Medic 7 on the first day of service, April 3, 2017.

Since 2013, calls for service have increased 26 percent with over 80 percent of those responses to medical emergencies. Lower severity medical calls comprise about 53 percent of medical emergencies during peak activity.

Among the long list of objectives during the trial period, Medic 7 aims to deliver efficient and effective medical services to the greater Spokane Valley community while reducing the wear and tear on the Department’s fire engines and ladder trucks.

Medic 7 will:

• Respond primarily to lower severity medical calls such as falls, headaches, abdominal pain, etc.
• Run a two-person crew consisting of one Paramedic and one Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Be Located at Evergreen Station 7 (1121 S. Evergreen) to serve the area in the fire district with the highest number of calls for service
• Operate during peak activity hours: Monday – Friday from 8 am – 8 pm

During the trial period, Medic 7 is responding to calls in a 2008 Ford F250 Crew Cab 4×4. The truck was already in the Department’s fleet and was formerly used as a tow vehicle. Medic 7 is now repurposed and fully equipped for emergency medical response.

Known in the industry as an Alternative Response Unit (ARU) program, data will be collected and analyzed during the Medic 7 trial period, which runs through September 2017.