The Lathrop-Manteca Fire District will start providing non-transport Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic services on Monday, Jan. 13.

Services will initially be provided from Fire Station 34 at 460 River Islands Parkway.

The District will host a ribbon cutting event at Fire Station 34, on Monday at 9 a.m.

ALS or “paramedic” service provides a higher level of treatment to those in need of emergency medical care in the pre-hospital setting. 

The advanced level of care allows paramedics to stabilize critical patients who may have suffered a life-threatening event like cardiac arrest, or stroke, while preparing them for transport to a hospital. 

Paramedics have enhanced ability to provide advanced airway management, IV access, medication administration, and advanced cardiac care.

 District paramedics will work in conjunction with paramedics from local transport ambulance providers, including Manteca District Ambulance and others. 

To become a licensed paramedic, students must successfully endure over 1,000 hours of education, training, and evaluation. 

The District’s firefighter-paramedics have finished all necessary training and state licensure requirements through an accredited paramedic program. Requirements include didactic instruction, skills laboratory, hospital clinical training, and a field internship on an ambulance.

 “Our firefighters are pioneering fire-based advanced life support services here in Lathrop. Through their efforts, the residents and visitors of our community will surely benefit from this enhanced level of service,” noted Fire Chief David Bramell.

Currently the District has six fully accredited firefighter-paramedics to support the program. 

The remainder of the District’s firefighters are certified as emergency medical technicians. 

While two District paramedics were licensed prior to employment with the District, the remaining four completed an accredited paramedic program through an agreement with Las Positas College, in Livermore.

To fund the training of the new paramedics, the District secured a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Department of Homeland Security. 

The District procured the required ALS equipment and will receive ongoing financial support from the City of Lathrop to administer the program from the added sales tax that voters approved.

The District is a recognized ALS provider by agreement with the San Joaquin County Emergency Medical Services Agency. The District will evaluate further expanding ALS service from other fire stations as personnel are trained or acquired.

 “To bring a program of this nature to fruition takes a truly collaborative approach with community stakeholders, elected officials, the local emergency medical services agency, and committed first responders,” the fire chief said.

“We are grateful for the contributions of all who made this achievement possible.”

 The following District personnel will provide ALS service from Fire Station 34:

*Firefighter-Paramedic Rigo Fonseca

*Firefighter-Paramedic Kamal Singh

*Engineer-Paramedic Joshua Burke

*Engineer-Paramedic Andre Guzman

*Engineer Paramedic Marty Ortiz

*Captain-Paramedic Bryan Smith.

 Oversight of the District’s ALS program will be provided by Battalion Chief Josh Capper who is also a licensed paramedic.