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Most people associate firefighters with fighting fire. In reality, approximately three fourths of the emergency calls for service at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue are for medical issues. Many are for injuries received in motor vehicle accidents. But, many more involve serious, life-threatening medical events that occur in homes or at businesses and require immediate attention. |
Medical First Responders
With fire stations and crews strategically positioned in the community to fight fire, our medically-trained firefighters can arrive within minutes, begin life-saving procedures at the location and prepare a patient for transport to the nearest hospital. Whether it is a call for an adult with cardiac issues or breathing difficulties in an infant, Hillsboro Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians-- Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic--provide swift and compassionate care.
When a citizen calls 9-1-1 for an ambulance, a Hillsboro Fire Department unit is dispatched along with the ambulance. Most often, firefighter/paramedics arrive first, begin life-saving procedures and treatment to stabilize the patient, and then hand off that patient to Washington County's exclusive emergency medical transport franchisee, Metro West Ambulance. That provides the fastest and most efficient service possible. |
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Depending on the type of injury or illness and the patient's preference, Metro West transports patients to any one of four primary receiving hospitals and two Level-One Trauma Centers. For serious medical issues, such as heart attacks or trauma injuries, the entire team of firefighter/medics and ambulance medics may be required to adequately perform the multitude of tasks, which may include intubation (insertion of a breathing tube), insertion of intravenous fluids or drugs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), monitoring vital signs, scribing, and a host of others. In such cases, one or more firefighters may accompany the patient to the hospital in the ambulance so those procedures and processes may continue uninterrupted.
You can help speed treatment of you and your family members by keeping a medical emergency card for each family member. This card lists your medical history, current medications and known allergies. Additionally, it lists contacts in case of emergency, such as your primary physician. You can download the Medical Emergency Card (two copies per sheet) here. |
In cases of traumatic injury, time becomes so crucial for the patient's survival that the incident commander may request medical helicopter transportation to the nearest Level One Trauma Center. In the Portland Metro area, Life Fight Network of Oregon provides critical care air transportation services.
Firefighters will provide initial care and stabilize the patient, coordinate the landing zone for the helicopter and assist the chopper crew in loading the patient. This method can easily reduce transportation time to the hospital emergency department by an hour over ground transportation, especially during peak traffic congestion times.
Arriving at the hospital in what emergency physicians call the "golden hour" -- the first sixty minutes following the trauma -- can often mean the difference between life and death. |
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In addition to their initial medical training, all firefighter/medics must attend continuing education classes to keep their skills and knowledge fresh. They also practice on simulator patients to test their application of defined medical orders and treatment protocols.
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| All medical care in the field is supervised by a board-certified Emergency Physician. Michael D. Shertz, MD, FACEP, DTM&H, is the physician supervisor for Hillsboro Fire Department. On a regular basis, Dr. Shertz conducts quality improvement case reviews on significant medical calls so that all firefighter/medics and future patients can all benefit from this quality improvement process. |
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Emergency Medical Records Request
All medical information collected and recorded during a pre-hospital care emergency call is protected to ensure the patient's privacy. Click on the Notice of Privacy Practices for more information.
If you desire a copy of pre-hospital care Emergency Medical Service records created by Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, you will need to submit an application in writing. You may download, complete and sign the request form and present it in-person at Fire Station #1 located at 240 South First Avenue. You will need to provide photo identification. Parents or legal guardians of minors will need to provide additional identification. To request a copy of these medical records, please fill out and submit the Request for Medical Records.
If you wish to amend a medical record, please fill out and submit the Request to Amend Medical Records.
If you have specific restrictions regarding your protected medical information, please fill out and submit the Request for Restriction of Medical Records.
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Other Medical Links
 Washington County Emergency Medical Services
 Oregon Emergency Medical Services
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