MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Residents aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, can now rest a little easier knowing that the Federal Fire Department on base has recently added an Advanced Life Support System to its arsenal for protecting and serving those living here.
The Advance Life Support Paramedic ambulatory service became available Sunday. The Emergency Medical Services ambulance, which was previously based at Branch Medical Clinic, Kaneohe Bay, was transferred to the Federal Fire Department, during a ceremony Nov. 1.
Special guests at the ceremony included Brig. Gen. Jerry C. McAbee, commanding general of MCB Hawaii, and Navy Capt. Joseph Moore, commanding officer of the Naval Medical Clinic, Pearl Harbor. Both welcomed the new paramedics aboard.
"Today marks a landmark event," said Capt. Moore during his speech at the ceremony. " The type of emergency response you are getting today is second to none."
Mirroring the transfer of the Emergency Medical Services unit at Pearl Harbor, the transfer serves to provide the MCB Hawaii community with an increased standard of care that only an advanced life support ambulance service can provide.
The improved service will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by state and nationally certified paramedics.
These paramedics are highly trained prior to taking their certifying exams.
They take part in an intensive three-year curriculum at Kapiolani Community College in downtown Honolulu.
The program is considered to be one of the toughest in the nation.
In addition to medical training, the paramedics also completed a demanding eight-week fire training course where they are instructed on the basics of fire fighting techniques such as hose handling and rescuer skills.
The transfer of services will be transparent to the community, and access to emergency care will continue to be available.