Emergency Medical Services

Mission: Provide our members the required support and training to serve the public.

Values: Empathy, Compassion and Respect.

Vision: Provide the right service to the right patient at the right time.

Sacramento paramedic pushing a gurney with a red and green bag. Behind her is an ambulance. open_in_full

About

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division is responsible for providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) services and Basic Life Support (BLS) services and transporting patients by ambulance throughout the City of Sacramento.

The Sacramento Fire Department’s EMS Division operates in coordination with the Sacramento County Emergency Medical Services Agency (SCEMSA) and collaborates with neighboring fire departments' EMS divisions, local hospitals, and community organizations to provide and shape pre-hospital care in the Sacramento region.

Lifeline Program

Since 2016, we've proudly participated in the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline program. Our EMS personnel consistently exceed heart attack and stroke care standards, earning us recognition for seven consecutive years, including the 2023 "EMS-Gold with Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll" award.

Sacramento Fire and Sacramento City council posing with a certificate inside the Council Chambers open_in_full

National pediatric study

In addition to delivering top-notch patient care, the EMS Division actively shapes the future of EMS by engaging in research and adopting innovative technologies. Currently, the division contributes to an ongoing national pediatric study focusing on pediatric seizure treatment.

Telehealth

With the recent launch of Telehealth, we are working with neighboring EMS agencies to address the rise in non-emergent 911 calls. Telehealth enables on-scene paramedics to consult with physicians, providing appropriate care without unnecessary hospital transport.

In the news

EMS calls

SFD handles more than 90,000 medical aid calls yearly, making up over 80% of total department calls. The EMS Division ensures our first responder units (ambulances, engines, trucks) are fully equipped with firefighter-EMTs and/or firefighter-paramedics for ALS/BLS services.

We deploy eighteen 24-hour ALS ambulances and up to three flex ALS ambulances when needed, each with a team of two firefighters, including at least one licensed paramedic. All SFD firefighter-paramedics and firefighter-EMTs are licensed by the State of California EMS Authority and accredited with SCEMSA.

Training

We prioritize the training and education of our EMS personnel to support our division's mission. They receive regular training to maintain skills and certifications, including Multi-Company Drills (MCD) covering various specialties, like handling Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI).

Additionally, we collaborate with local law enforcement and hospital coordinators to prepare for potential MCIs. This approach has made SFD a response model for training and mitigating Intentional Mass Casualty Incidents (IMCI).

In the news

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