Flashing lights. Wailing sirens. Panic. Emergencies are scary, but the Washington Township Fire Department employs a Special Needs Registry to make sure no one gets lost in the shuffle.
The registry, which is open to all residents of Washington Township, aims to inform emergency responders if an individual has a medical condition that would require specialized care. The current version of the program was inspired by a similar initiative already in place in Delaware County.
“We wanted to model it after a system that was working and had demonstrated sustainability,” says Eric Johnson, a veteran firefighter who now serves as the EMS manager for the department.
Since the program’s implementation three years ago, EMS responders have been trained to adapt care to a diverse array of situations. For example, in the case of a child with autism, responders would know to turn off sirens and lights that might agitate the child before their arrival.
“It’s geared towards those with any type of medical conditions where it would be helpful for EMS people to be notified prior to arriving, such as mobility issues, being hard of hearing, or any special medical condition where our treatment may need to be more specialized,” Johnson says.
The registry can be used in non-medical emergencies as well, such as fire, floods or other emergency evacuations.
“If we were to have a fire and somebody is confined to their bed, during the process of getting them enrolled, we can know where they’re located and focus on that part of the house first during our primary search and rescue that individual more quickly. If we need to evacuate an area, if we know somebody has mobility issues or is on home oxygen, we can accommodate their needs and make sure enough is brought with them to the location,” Johnson adds.
For interested residents, enrollment in the registry is thorough. First, the department will send out an information packet and schedule an on-site visit. Participants will then be asked to sign a HEPA agreement so that the department can share the medical and logistical information with emergency responders. The information is entered into mapping software that will inform crews if it is a special needs premise in case of an emergency.
The department also offers home inspections by request, in which responders give participants feedback on safety practices, test their smoke detectors and practice evacuations in the event of a fire or other emergency.
Johnson says the program has strengthened the department’s ties with residents and provided opportunities for continuing education.
“Directly, it has helped us understand the needs of our residents,” Johnson says. “There may be situations where having the family involved provides best outcome. We’re able to work together and provide the best care for the patient.”
Jaya Pillai is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
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