03/29/2024
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bladen-county-ems-strike-teamA Paramedic level EMS unit has left Bladen County and is heading to the Western part of North Carolina on a five day mission as part of an ambulance strike team from the Southeastern Healthcare Preparedness Region 5. Included in the strike team are five ambulances from Bladen, New Hanover, Brunswick Onslow and Robeson counties, according to Bladen County EMS Director David Howell.

Howell said they will provide emergency medical support to fire crews in that location. They will provide support to the local EMS services in the area also.

“Bladen County EMS is very glad to offer support to our neighbors in the western part of the state since they provide very much needed support to us here in Bladen during Hurricane Matthew. Our paramedic unit will be utilized in Macon County during this mission,” said Howell.

The use of strike teams makes resource management more effective by maximizing use of the resources, limiting the supervisors’ span of control and simplifying communications, according to Howell. AST’s are utilized within the framework of the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), using the Incident Command System (ICS) to provide the best response during a disaster event. Strike teams, self-supporting units at the scene of a disaster, are able to receive, triage and transport patients.

“Bladen County is very proud to have the opportunity to be involved in this,” said Howell.

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