EMS PROFILE:  SACHSE FIRE RESCUE


Sachse Fire Rescue operates two ambulances and responded to more than 600 EMS calls in 2008.

"The idea of running our own ambulance actually came from the men in the department and I pursued the plan," Chief Doug Kendrick said.  "This new service would not have been possible if not for the dedication, care and concern these men feel for the community."


Number of Personnel:  Sachse Fire Rescue (SFR) has a staff of 39 full-time, part-time and volunteer personnel.  The certification breakdown of the department is 13 EMT-basics and 29 paramedics.  Currently, four of the EMT-basics are attending paramedic training and will be graduating this year (2009).  In support of the Texas disaster response plan, SFR has sent one member to the strike team leader course. 

Years of service, number of units and number of calls:  In 1989, SFR became an ALS first responder and began its relationship with BioCare Medical Control, becoming the first RFO under its umbrella.  At that time, the City of Sachse had contracted with a private service for ambulance service, but the volunteers with SFR felt obligated to respond and treat citizens until the ambulance service arrived.  In 2000, SFR became an EMS provider and staffed an ambulance that was obtained through an agreement with the Southeast Collin County Ambulance Coalition.  The SFR ambulance staff began as volunteers, but it quickly grew to include part-time personnel who could serve during the day when the volunteers were not available.  In 2003, SFR withdrew from the coalition and purchased its own ambulances - one in 2003 and one in 2004.   In 2006, SFR hired its first full-time firefighter/
paramedic.  Sachse Fire Rescue responded to a record high 646 EMS calls in 2008.

Current activities:  In addition to pre-hospital care and transport, SFR focuses on area-wide EMS training and community-based programs.  Training programs include a low-cost EMT-basic class for area departments that do not have the resources to send their members to other classes, monthly continuing education programs and in-house PEPP and ITLS certification courses.  Currently, SFR is developing a program that will certify all City of Sachse employees in CPR and first aid, organizing first responder training for our CERT team and placing AEDs in all city buildings.  They offer CPR classes to citizens who request them, have one car seat technician that schedules appointments for car seat checks and provide medical standby and public education at local festivals.  Last year, Sachse Fire Rescue signed the ALS Bus MOA and deployed two paramedics and one EMT for hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

This article was written by Lieutenant Robert Knappage, EMS Coordinator.  The article was submitted to and published in the May/June 2009 issue of Texas EMS Magazine.

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