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Emergency Medical ServicesTHE JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY CARE, RESCUE AND TRANSPORTATIONEMS GOLD STANDARD SERVICE OF THE YEAR AWARDThe first annual EMS Gold Standard Award goes to Margate Fire Rescue of Margate, FL. This small, fully paid department runs a one-tier rescue system in Broward County and handles 4,000 calls each year, with 52 fire fighter/paramedics, two rescue trucks, an ALS engine and an aerial truck. The Department has been rewarded with excellent results on the last two state HRS on-site reviews. Ninety percent of Margate's personnel are CPR instructors, enabling them to train hundreds of lay and professional people each year. The Department's Baby Saver class teaches first aid, home safety and CPR to expectant families and baby sitters, and supplies and videos have been distributed across Broward County so churches, PTAs and other fire departments can replicate the program in their communities. The course is offered by Margate once each month, as well as upon request. All department members have learned sign language, and all combat personnel are trained as American Red Cross lifeguards to increase water-operations safety. The Department's Dive Team as organized, financed and is supported by its own members through Local 2497, Professional Firefighters of Margate. The Fire Medic Explorer Program trains community teens in first aid and fire ground safety. They then "ride out" on real calls in preparation for a future in the fire service. Margate personnel are justifiably proud of their department's equipment: Every unit has pulse oximetry, and the department received a grant for a pilot project in 12-lead, making it the only department in the county with the capability of transmitting 12-lead EKGs to local hospitals. Margate Fire Rescue is involved in many community projects. The Department provides time and money for personnel to participate in a wide variety of programs, such as the "Safe Place" program, in which firehouses function as places of refuge for abused and runaway children until Safe Place counselors arrive. This system, small in size yet enormous in its commitment to excellence, empowers its employees, enabling them to make an impact upon present practices while working toward future change in the EMS system on local, county and state levels. EMS Magazine and its Gold Award Sustaining Sponsors salute Margate Fire Rescue as recipients of the First Annual EMS Gold Standard Service of the Year Award.
Margate Fire Rescue 1996 EMS Provider of the Year
The Award is especially sweet as, just a year ago, EMS Magazine chose to name Margate as its first EMS "Gold Standard Award" winner. For a small Department to receive both these Awards is a true honor. Full credit for these Awards go to the women and men of Margate Fire Rescue who, day after day, deliver excellence in service to their citizens. Return to EMS
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Margate Fire Rescue received its second prestigious award on July
11th 1996, from the State of Florida EMS Office. The Office, which falls under Florida's
H.R.S., has to inspect all the EMS services in the State, and thus have a certain
familiarity with all the systems. Each year, they invite Departments from all over the
State to submit packets stating why they think their Department is deserving of the
"Provider of the Year" Award. This year, the Rescue Supervisor submitted a
letter describing how the Department "does business", with an emphasis on public
education, and a commitment to excellence. From Departments large and small across the
State, H.R.S. chose to honor the men and women of this small Department.