EMTs added to FD day shift in milestone for NC county

Lindell J. Kay
The Wilson Daily Times, N.C.

MIDDLESEX, N.C. — The town’s volunteer fire department is adding emergency medical technicians to its day shift.

The lifesaving addition marks Middlesex as the only municipality in southern Nash County to have EMTs on hand, Mayor Lu Harvey Lewis announced Monday afternoon during a press conference at the fire station on West Finch Avenue.

“This means a lot to this end of the county. It’s a big step for us,” said Lewis, who is also a longtime member of the fire department.

EMTs will be on staff during weekday business hours. The technicians are allowed to issue certain drugs and perform important procedures, said Anthony Tant, the department’s day shift assistant chief.

“You can’t even dispense an aspirin as a first responder,” Lewis said, explaining the upgrade to commissioners during the town’s 12-minute meeting Monday evening.

Light rescue including vehicle extrications with the Jaws of Life equipment will soon be available on all shifts, Tant said.

Some Middlesex firefighters moving up a level to EMT means they’ll be able to perform lifesaving CPR on a cardiac arrest patient, said Scott Strufe, the county’s director of emergency medical services.

Nash County Emergency Services Director Brian Brantly said southern Nash County is blessed to have such top-notch firefighters.

Lewis said the EMT certification didn’t happen overnight and he’s grateful to county officials for helping the Middlesex firefighters achieve their goal.

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©2020 The Wilson Daily Times (Wilson, N.C.)