WESTFORD, Mass. — The Westford Fire Department has expanded its advanced life support capabilities so that paramedics can administer broad-spectrum antibiotics in the ambulance to patients showing signs of septic shock.
On social media, the department said sepsis and septic shock are time-sensitive medical emergencies, and providing this treatment in the prehospital setting can help strengthen care from the first point of contact through hospital treatment.
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Sepsis remains a significant public health concern in the United States, affecting at least 1.7 million adults each year and contributing to at least 350,000 deaths or hospice discharges, with outcomes particularly severe for septic shock patients, about one-third of whom die during hospitalization, the department noted.
The department credited the training and clinical preparation of its EMTs and paramedics, along with coordination with partners at Lowell General Hospital, as part of ongoing efforts to improve patient outcomes.
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