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Public Education


WCEMS takes public education seriously.  We live, work, and play in Williamson County just like you so our commitment doesn't end when our shift does. 

We offer American Heart Association CPR courses along with Take 10 CPR.  Bystanders are the real heroes. Follow the link to find out why.

Are you aged 16-21 and interested in a career in medicine?  Come join our Explorer Post!

Our Shattered Dreams DUI Team works annually to educate high school students about the dangers of DUI.  Contact them to arrange a program at your child's school.

See what it's like to work on an ambulance.  Come Ride With EMS!

Requesting a Public Speaker or Ambulance To Your Event is a great way to learn about us.  We look forward to meeting you!

Please contact our county Public Affairs Manager for media inquiries.

The WCEMS Honor Guard is available to serve at ceremonial functions and other special events.

Child Safety is everyone's responsibility.  Our car seat program and Safe Baby Academy is available to the entire community.

 

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Commonly Heard Terms On An EMS Call
What Did They Say?

A&OX4 - Alert & oriented to person, place, time, and event.

BGL - Blood glucose (sugar) level, checked with a glucometer.

Bag - Device with a bag and a mask used to provide breaths.  Also called a BVM.

Box - Ambulance.  Also referred to as unit, medic, M.I.C.U., bus, my office.

BP - Blood pressure.  Systolic, top number.  Diastolic, bottom number.

Cardiac Arrest - Death resulting from the heart stopping beating.  Not the same as a heart attack.  (see definition)

CO2 - Exhaled gas, measuring this helps us diagnose certain issues.

ECG - Electrocardiogram, a tracing provided by our monitor, shows your heart’s electrical activity.

Electrodes - Used to attach ECG wires or leads to your body.  Also called stickers, stickies, buttons, etc.

EMT - Emergency Medical Technician.  Usually used to refer to a Basic level provider.  Paramedics are also EMT’s but not all EMT’s are Paramedics.

First Responder - Refers to firefighters that provide initial medical care.  Most are EMT Basics.

G.C.S. -  A score for your level of alertness and ability to move.

Glucometer -  used to check blood sugar.

Heart Attack - A heart problem, usually resulting from a clot in a coronary blood vessel.  Can result in cardiac arrest.

Intubation -  The placement of a breathing tube.

Lucas - A machine that does chest compressions during CPR.

Medical Director - Oversees care, trains, and is responsible for all level of EMT’s in the WCEMS System.  EMT’s provide care by law, as the medical director’s proxy.

M.I.C.U. - Mobile Intensive Care Unit.

Monitor - Machine used to view an ECG, PulseOx, and CO2.

Ohs - Oxygen

Paramedic - The highest level of EMT provider.  Can administer complex treatments including cardiac medications and breathing tubes.  Trained to make important decisions with the consent of their medical director.

Pads - Large stickers placed on the body as part of an emergency pacemaker for the heart.  During CPR to shock the heart.

POV - Your vehicle

PulseOx - Measures the percentage of oxygen in your blood.  Also called SPO2.

STEMI - An acronym for a heart attack with definitive proof on an ECG, seen on the monitor.

Toughbook - Computer used to document an EMS call.

Ventilator - Machine used to provide breaths for patients that cannot do so for themselves.

 

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