Langley AFB, Va. –
Bryan Anthony studies quietly in the breakroom, where the call comes in. With the ambulance already out on a call, the firefighters gear up for another emergency. Within minutes, he responds, hurrying into the office of a man passed out on the floor. It takes seconds before he begins administering medical support to someone in need of help.
This is not an episode of “Rescue Me” or “Chicago Hope,” but rather the everyday life of Airmen and civilian firefighters Air Force-wide.
With the ever-increasing demand for medically-qualified members to respond to a variety of emergencies, the Langley Fire Department rises to the challenge with medically-trained firefighters ready to save lives from external and internal injuries.
“Our first priority is to save lives,” said Frank Koninski, assistant chief of training for the Langley Fire Department. “Whether we rescue them from fire or a medical emergency, the closer we are to saving a life, the better chance we have of accomplishing the mission.”
Mr. Koninski said medical calls dominate incoming calls to the fire department, which hosts the base emergency call center. Because of that, at least 15 firefighters on each 24-hour shift maintain an emergency medical technician certification to respond to medical emergencies.
Master Sgt. Sean Bennett, 1st Aerospace Medicine Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of medical readiness plans and training, operates the base EMT training.
“For the past 20 to 30 years, there has been joint medical training with firefighters,” said Sergeant Bennett. “That includes education on body systems and unseen effects of injuries, so when a firefighter comes upon a medical emergency, they know the signs to look for in case of internal injuries.”
The 1st AMDS manages the hospital’s deployment program, covering topics from readiness and training to disaster teams. The EMT training includes first aid, controlling the airway and breathing, excessive bleeding, emergency childbirth, vehicle extraction and more.
“Firefighters are really going to be first on-scene responders on base,” said Sergeant Bennett. “The sooner medical treatment starts, the better chance there will be of survival.”
Mr. Anthony has had medical training as long as he’s been a firefighter, coming to Langley as a new Airman in 1998.
“We go through the grueling six-week EMT basic course,” said Mr. Anthony. “That includes car accidents, environmental and behavioral emergencies … you name it, we get trained on it. We’re given a basic understanding of saving someone’s life, trying to sustain that life until we can get them to a medical facility.”
The Langley Fire Department, said Mr. Anthony, often responds to mutual aid calls with off-base fire departments and while overseas are the first line of defense. Often, firefighters were the only medics until victims were evacuated from the scene. “In my opinion, everyone in the fire department should be an EMT.”
Mr. Anthony takes pride and satisfaction from being a firefighter.
“Being a firefighter means helping people out whenever they need us and being an informative authority on safety in the local community and on base. It’s a good feeling.”