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<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; Upon entering the Nanticoke Fire Department, the care and concern firefighters share for each other and for area residents is evident.</p><p>Firefighters are quick to share a laugh, defer to each other in conversation or share professional information.</p><p>In that spirit, the department has recently achieved Quick Response Service certification as an opportunity to better serve area residents through the Pennsylvania Department of Health.</p><p>The QRS certification allows the department to assist seriously ill and injured patients while waiting for ambulances to arrive.</p><p>Nanticoke Fire Chief Kevin Hazleton couldn&#8217;t be any prouder of his department&#8217;s efforts to better serve the public.</p><p>Hazleton gives a lot of the credit for obtaining the certification to Justin Gildea, a firefighter and paramedic who oversaw the process which he said took &#8220;every bit of six or eight months.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Before we could become certified, we had to comply with requirements regarding supplies, training and staffing,&#8221; said Gildea. &#8220;And we were then inspected by the state.&#8221;</p><p>When asked for an example, Hazleton said if someone went into cardiac arrest, firefighters could legally use a automated external defibrillator (AED) and some limited medications.</p><p>&#8220;Early intervention is so important,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s true that seconds and even minutes count.&#8221;</p><p>In addition to cardiac emergencies, Hazleton anticipates using the certification during such medical emergencies as seizures and traumatic injuries.</p><p>Retired chief Mike Bohan, now a volunteer, said seeing the company continuing to move forward, providing service and safety to members of the community is a wonderful thing.</p><p>All 10 of the department&#8217;s career firefighters are certified emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, necessary for obtaining QRS status. Several volunteer firefighters are also trained as EMTs.</p><p>&#8220;People can be sure that, in an emergency, there will be at least one person immediately available to medically assist them,&#8221; said Gildea.</p><p>The department is assigned a medical director who is able to oversee required trip reports by phone or online.</p><p>Hazleton is very proud of his department&#8217;s achievement.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re one of about six departments in Luzerne County to obtain this status,&#8221; said Hazleton. &#8220;It&#8217;s something that we worked hard to obtain because of our commitment to this community.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Fire chief Kevin Hazleton and firefighter Justin Gildea talk about their recent Quick Response Service certification, allowing the Nanticoke Fire Department to increase emergency services provided to residents. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL101915Nanticoke.Fire_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Fire chief Kevin Hazleton and firefighter Justin Gildea talk about their recent Quick Response Service certification, allowing the Nanticoke Fire Department to increase emergency services provided to residents. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Nanticoke Fire Department achieves Quick Response Service certification