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EMS Education
The Norwich Township Fire Department is an accredited EMS Continuing Education program with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services. With this certification, our agency is able to provide continuing medical education to our EMS providers and our agency has served for many years as a regional continuing medical education location. Continuing education is an integral part of being a firefighter and paramedic at Norwich Township. Our agency believes in life-long learning, due in part to the changing dynamics and evolution of the medical practice.
EMS Education Events:
Monthly Training:
Our firefighters train monthly with our Medical Director on a variety of pertinent medical topics. EMS Certificates are presented upon successful completion of the training session.
55 and Up: Home Safety and Prevention Program
Being part of an aging society, the Norwich Township Fire Department recognizes the need to be proactive in preventing medical emergencies and fire-related situations for the older adult residents of Norwich Township, including the City of Hilliard and Brown Township. For EMS, the older adult is a small percentage by population but accounts for an average of almost 40% of our requests for service. If we can prevent illness, injury, or fire, then we are performing to meet the needs of our residents.
This program is designed to assist our older adult population and/or their caregivers by providing guidance on improving living safety conditions. The components of this program include the following:
1. Make a request to the Norwich Township Fire Department for a home visit
2. The fire department will come out and assist you with the following:
- Home safety inspection
- Medication organization and safety
- Complete a vial of life form for each occupant
- Provide a complimentary medication organization container
According to the CDC, falls are not inevitable but they do occur more often among older adults because fall risk factors increase with age and are usually associated with health and aging conditions. These risk factors include:
Behavioral Risk Factors
• Inactivity
• Medication side effects, overuse and/or interactions
• Alcohol Use
Environmental Risk Factors
• Home and environmental hazards (clutter, poor lighting, etc.)
• Incorrect size, type, or use of assistive devices (walkers, canes, crutches, etc)
• Poorly designed public spaces
The Centers for Disease Control have identified the five building blocks of effective community-based fall prevention programs below:
1. Education about falls and fall risk factors
2. Exercises that improve mobility, strength, and balance, and that are taught by trained, nationally certified exercise instructors or physical therapists. Exercise programs include:
• Tai Chi
• Individualized exercise sessions
• Group exercise classes
• Home exercise programs with supervision until the older adult can exercise independently
3. Medication Review to identify side effects or drug interactions that may contribute to falls. The reviews should be conducted by a pharmacist or healthcare provider. Medication management adjustments to or changes in medications should be provided by physicians
4. Vision Examinations by trained healthcare professionals with vision correction by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
5. Home Safety assessment and home modification by occupational therapists or other healthcare professionals with specialized training, to identify and modify home hazards that can increase older adults’ risk of falling
By expanding the Norwich Township Fire Department scope into injury/illness/fire prevention for the 55 and up residents of Norwich Township, our department will be fulfilling the obligations of one of the key components that are necessary to reduce the potential for a catastrophic event.
Other Helpful Resources:
What if I Fall?
Medication Safety
Fall Prevention Community Resources
Older Adult Home Safety and Prevention Program Resources:
- Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal Home Fire Safety Checklist
- Hamilton County Fall Prevention Taskforce: Medication and Fall Prevention
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medicines and You: A Guide for Older Adults
- Preventing Falls: A Guide to Implementing Effective Community-Based Fall Prevention Programs
- NFPA: Fall Prevention Reminders
- National Institute of Health: Falls and Older Adults
Individuals age 60 and over often times have special needs. As we age, our bodies undergo change. With this change, we need to modify how we perform some tasks, but also understand the whole aging process. As a community-based organization, the Norwich Township Fire Department realizes the need to be proactive and reach out with interventions to prevent problems. Click here to learn more about these resources for those age 60 and over, as well as for their caregivers. Visit the Focus Hilliard Page for more resources or contact Focus Hilliard at (614) 876-7694.
Links to other Web Sites
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Flu Vaccine Information
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
Central Ohio Trauma System
The Center for Family Safety and Healing
Ohio Health System
Mount Carmel Health System
Ohio State University Hospital
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Norwich Township EMS tries to transport patients to an appropriate Columbus Area emergency department of their choice. There are times these requests cannot be honored due to the following reasons:
1. Trauma (Ohio law requires transport to specialized trauma centers).
2. Stroke (Ohio law requires transport to specialized stroke treatment centers).
3. Hospital Diversion (This happens when an individual hospital is overcrowded with patients or experiences equipment failures).
4. Emergency Patient Transport Plan (There are times due to extremely high patient volumes regionally that the Emergency Patient Transport Plan is enacted. When this plan is enacted, medics are assigned to an appropriate hospital by a regional transport coordinator.
Patients requiring substance abuse assistance might be transported to Maryhaven Addiction Stabilization Center.
Health Information
Franklin County Board of Health
Columbus Health Department
Centers for Disease Control
FDA for Med Watch
Educational Information
Ohio Division of EMS
OhioHealth Emergency Medical Services
Columbus State Community College
OSU Center for EMS
Educational Videos
