MEDICAL CENTER DONATES NEW DEFIBRILLATOR

Jackson Fire Rescue Unit Chief Brad Golden posed with original Southeast Medical Center directors Clarence Brennecke, Garland Powell and Paul Mueller Jr., in whose names the medical center donated a new external defibrillator. Bern Schaper, the other surviving original board member, was unable to attend the ceremony. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Nation-wide, only three to five percent of all fire calls are due to structure fires. Many more cases involve various injuries, hazardous material removal and other situations.

Fire departments are re-evaluating their mission and are trying to provide the serves that best meet local needs.

Thanks to a $9,960 gift from the Southeast Medical Center, the Jackson Fire Rescue Unit will be able to better meet those needs. The center made the donation to provide a FirstSave automated external defibrillator for the department. The unit allows a paramedic to monitor patients' cardiac rhythms prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

"We are very grateful," said Chief Brad Golden. "This will allow us to do more for our clients and to provide better service. We're taking a big step."

The medical center made the donation in the name of the four surviving original board members, Al Lowes, Bob Hartle, Arnold Strickert and Bern Schaper. Also on that original 1959 board were Clarence Brennecke, Garland Powell and Paul Mueller Jr., all decides. The Southeast Medical Center also oversees operation of Jackson Manor.

The new equipment includes a battery charger and is inspected daily. It also keeps its own records.

The department has been using a defibrillator for nearly two years and has had "some successful calls" with them, in Golden's words.

"This allows us to go one step further," said Golden, who is also a registered nurse. He noted that the goal is for Jackson fire trucks to eventually be self-contained life support vehicles.

Only paramedics are licensed to use the defibrillators. The Jackson squad has three such individuals. Annual training is required to use the equipment. Jackson Fire Rescue personnel also administer medications and does IV's. Golden compared much of what the department does with the old "Emergency" television show.