Where's the Fire?

Abstract

As the UK explores the potential for fire services to act as first-responders to medical incidents, it is interesting that this research focuses on a system where fire services have traditionally been utilized as first-responders and where questions are now being asked as to whether this resource is appropriate for all emergency health care calls. The study included a ‘before-after’ design and set out to examine whether a selective emergency medical dispatch (EMD) system could reduce the frequency of deployment of fire department first-responder units and, if it did, whether this compromised patient safety. Abstract published with permission.