SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve Amendment No. 2 for the Emergency Medical Services ALS First Responder Agreement between Pinellas County and City of Clearwater to add Lifeguard BLS First Responder Services to the Clearwater Fire District and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
The Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMS Authority) is a special district created for the purpose of providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) throughout Pinellas County, pursuant to Chapter 80-585, Laws of Florida, and Chapter 54, Article III, Pinellas County Code, as amended. The City of Clearwater and Pinellas County have a five-year Emergency Medical Services ALS First Responder Agreement ending September 30, 2024, which may be extended for an additional five-year term upon mutual agreement. This agreement provides for reimbursement of engine and rescue units, EMS Coordination positions, and projected capital as outlined in Appendix A.
The City of Clearwater employs beach lifeguards that provide basic life support services (BLS), such as: automatic external defibrillator (AED) provisions, oxygen administration, hemorrhage control, and BLS patient assessments. They work with an assortment of Pinellas County lifesaving equipment to medically address the vast array of emergency medical situations surrounding the ocean/beach environment, which includes: lightning strikes, water rescues, ocean related bites/stings, as well as other prevalent medical emergencies that occur in beach and open water settings.
Amendment No. 2 will add Lifeguard BLS First Responder Services within the Clearwater Fire District, which will provide medical guidance in accordance with Pinellas County for our beach lifeguards. The beach lifeguards will now be working under the provisions of Pinellas County EMS, which requires them to be Office of the Medical Director (OMD) certified. Lifeguards will follow Pinellas County’s Rules and Regulations and the protocols of the Medical Operations Manual. Lifeguards will comply with supply and inventory control procedures; appropriate training and certifications; quality assurance; on-scene patient care protocols; and will be provided with equipment to carry out duties.
Beach lifeguards will be following a countywide code of behavior to medically treat the citizens and visitors of Clearwater Beach. This creates a seamless transition of patient care to Clearwater Fire & Rescue and Sunstar certified paramedics.
Wages, benefits, and general work supplies will continue to be paid by the City.
All terms of the initial Agreement will remain in full force and effect, and the Contractor and Authority agree that Amendment No. 2 will run concurrent with the ALS First Responder Agreement.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
NA
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
NA