Selden Fire Department honored for EMS practices

The Selden Fire Department is one of three departments around the country honored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the MedicAlert Foundation for best practices in emergency medical services.

Along with departments in Mesa, Ariz., and Center Point, Ala., the Selden department was awarded the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., last week.

Selden, a volunteer department, was recognized for “a number of new initiatives and expanded training that have reduced reliance on mutual aid support,” according to a release from MedicAlert.

The department was praised for assigning all newer members to shifts on the ambulance squad, which has resulted in covering all calls without needing mutual aid, and providing 24/7 paramedic coverage. The department was also honored for training its volunteers on dealing with the specialized needs of the growing elderly population in Selden.

“We’re just very thankful to everybody, and for the amount of work and effort the membership has put in to realize that it’s not thankless, that everybody realizes what we accomplish,” said Assistant Chief Peter Reimann, who attended the ceremony.

The Selden department is among the top 10 in the state in terms of 911 call volume, Reimann said. “We’ve taken big strides to protect our community,” he said.

The CFSI is a nonprofit fire and life safety issues policy organization. MedicAlert Foundation International is a nonprofit that pioneered the use of medical IDs.