MEDSTAR SAFETY MEASURES STILL IN EFFECT AND

9-1-1 CALL VOLUME FOR EMS UP SHARPLY

 

 

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 4, 2011 -   MedStar is continuing to suspend lights-and-sirens response mode and is not transporting patients outside of the organization’s service area.  Both of these safety measures have been implemented to minimize the risk to crews, patients being transported and the driving public. 

 

Additionally, 9-1-1 call volume to MedStar has increased to almost 30% above average over the past day:

 

Traffic accident calls are up to 85% above average Falls continue to increase to 221% above average Birth and pregnancy-related calls up to 145% above average Breathing problems continue to taper off, now at 22% above average

 

The increase in call volume and extended travel times due to road conditions have caused delayed responses to some non life-threatening calls.  All calls are prioritized based on urgency using National Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols and will be responded to as quickly and safely as possible.

 

Again, MedStar encourages people to stay off the roads if at all possible.

 

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

 

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