FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:   Captain Dave Wheaton, Lee County Public Safety/EMS, (941) 335-1661

EMS BIKE TEAM TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN ANTICIPATION OF PARADE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 8, 2002) – The new Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) bicycle team will go through a training/certification course next week prior to one of its biggest outings of the year – the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade. 

An instructor with the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) will be teaching an EMS Bicycle Operations Course to members of the Lee County EMS Paramedic Bicycle Response Team.  The course runs Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lee County Mosquito Control. 

The training is being funded through a state EMS Matching Grant secured by Lee County EMS for development and implementation of the Paramedic Bicycle Response Team, which will enhance ALS (Advanced Life Support) response to patients at large events, where due to crowds arrival to the patient’s side is often delayed. 

The course topics will include: effective cycling theory, bicycle laws and legal issues, bicycle maintenance, EMS scene safety, and bicycle load placement, along with practical riding skills such as cone courses, steps, curbs and maximum braking. 

“We continually strive to provide our Paramedics and EMTs with the most up-to-date training available,” says Capt. Dave Wheaton, team coordinator.  “The Paramedic Bicycle Response Team is no different.  Our Bike Medics will be trained in the latest, nationally accepted techniques.” 

The team has nine paramedics, including two supervisors.  Lee County EMS purchased four Trek 4300 mountain bikes and related equipment with a $9,375 grant from the Florida Department of Health and a $3,125 match from the county (for a total of $12,500).  The state grant comes from the EMS Trust Fund, which collects revenues from traffic fines. 

The bikes have Nightrider lighting systems, and racks with panniers (saddlebags) to carry equipment.  The bikes also carry either Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) or oxygen systems, and are equipped with assorted Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) supplies and equipment.   

The team patrolled its first event at the New Year’s Eve block party in downtown Fort Myers where it treated four patients that were later transported to local hospitals.  All were situations where it would have been difficult to get into the crowd with an ambulance or motorized cart. 

Lee County EMS celebrates its 30^th Anniversary this month.

Note to reporters: Please contact Dave Wheaton for photo opportunities or interviews.  Mosquito Control is a secure facility, so entry will have to be requested in advance.