Oakdale Fire Department Awarded

Last Tuesday, the Oakdale Fire Department Chief Jeff Anderson and Deputy Chief Kevin Wold received Distinguished Service Awards at Regions Hospital’s 20^th annual Rig Wash event. The event coincided with National EMS Week, which was kicked off on Monday.

The Oakdale Fire Department’s drive to use top notch medical equipment and their involvement in emergency medical service research made them easy targets for the recognition.

By participating in medical studies through their partnership with Regions Hospital, Oakdale firefighters and paramedics have the ability to influence the construction of cutting edge medical devices.

Currently, Oakdale paramedics are comparing laryngoscopes—a device used to open a patient’s airway to insert a breathing tube. Typically, the paramedic has to look in the patient’s mouth to see where to properly place the scope. But by participating in the medical study, paramedics can use a new state-of-the-art laryngoscope equipped with a camera, allowing them to more clearly see anatomy.

“These devices are usually very expensive…and through our association with Regions Hospital we have the opportunity to test them out,” Anderson said. “Our paramedics can also provide feedback and possibly influence the design of the device.”

Additionally, Anderson’s drive to save lives and simultaneously keep his staff safe has led him into a new fundraising venture, and one that his department was applauded for at Regions Hospital’s event.

“We’re currently working to come up with funding for an automated device that does chest compressions,” Anderson said, referring to a machine that takes the manual labor out of CPR. “It’s almost impossible to perform effective CPR in the back of an ambulance while wearing a seat belt. This machine would perform more consistent CPR, which increases the chances of a positive outcome for the patient.” 

The device comes with a $12,000 price tag, according to Anderson. The Oakdale Fire Department already received a $2,500 grant from CenterPoint Energy, but Anderson is hoping to purchase the device this year.

“Right now, manual CPR can vary from firefighter to firefighter,” Anderson said. “As someone gets tired, his chest compressions might slow down. This machine would be more consistent.”