They are often called in order to expedite transport of a seriously-injured patient to a hospital. Seriously-injured patients are often referred to specialty centers at local hospitals. These specialty referral centers have special equipment and highly-trained personnel who can handle major medical emergencies. Most trauma patients in Rockville are transported to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, which operates a trauma facility 24 hours per day. Paramedics in Maryland can give intravenous drugs and intubate patients, among other advanced medical interventions.
Towers have aerial platforms at the top of their ladders.
It it a less-costly alternative to a dedicated Medic Unit and allows any ambulance to be upgraded to ALS status. In Montgomery County, Ambulances are BLS providers, while medic units are ALS providers. For example, the assignment for a vehicle collision is one ambulance , one engine , and one rescue squad . BLS providers provide first-aid, basic drugs, defibrillation, and other medical and trauma interventions. Its current use is to fight small fires or to access fires in garages, where an engine typically cannot access.