As a part of a tiered response system, medic units are dispatched based on the report received by the communications center. As an example a medic unit would not respond to a call for a broken arm in order to be available for a critical trauma patient like the one here that requires respiratory assistance. Paramedics in King County as a rule work in teams of two medics per unit. But sometimes things get so busy that a team will split in order to respond to multiple incidents involving critically ill patients. King County Medic One works very closely with local fire departments as a part of the EMS system.
Paramedics work closely with Firefighters to assist with patient care as pictured here.
Here paramedic Lee Frykolm has inserted a breathing tube into a critically ill patient's airway. There is no such thing as typical shift, so this scene may be repeated many times during the day. Paramedics Sylvia Feder and Carol Sandlin examine a elderly patient who complains of chest pain. All information is general in nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site.