Collierville Fire & Rescue

🚑 What do those monitors on our ambulances actually do?

It's one of the most common questions we get.

Our LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitors are one of the most important tools our paramedics use when caring for patients. They allow us to monitor heart rhythms, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing effectiveness, and much more. In many cases, they help our crews identify life-threatening emergencies within minutes of arriving on scene.

Recently, Methodist Germantown Hospital's Cardiovascular Institute Outreach Coordinator, Nicole McCool, RN, shared that thanks to the rapid recognition of STEMIs (serious heart attacks) by Collierville Fire & Rescue personnel, two patients achieved the fastest Door-to-Balloon times at Methodist Germantown Hospital so far in 2026.

So what does that mean?

When someone calls 9-1-1 with chest pain or other heart attack symptoms, our crews can quickly perform a 12-lead EKG, often within just a few minutes of arriving. Our paramedics can interpret those findings and transmit them directly to the hospital before arrival.

That early notification allows emergency department staff, cardiologists, and cardiac catheterization teams to begin preparing before the patient even reaches the hospital. When every minute matters, those extra minutes can help save heart muscle and improve outcomes.

We are proud of our crews for their professionalism, training, and dedication to providing advanced prehospital care to our community. We also wish our patients a speedy recovery.

Crew Recognition:
Engine 84 – Lt./Paramedic David Vance, Firefighter/Advanced EMT Sellers, Firefighter/Advanced EMT Kyle Drewry

Unit 84 – Firefighter/Paramedic Junie Adair, Firefighter/Advanced EMT Jacob Henderson

Ladder 86 – Lt./Advanced EMT Daniel LaPlante, Driver/Paramedic Barry Spain, Firefighter/EMT Brandon Nolen

Unit 83 – Firefighter/Paramedic Jocko Tate, Firefighter/Paramedic Charles Fitzhugh, Firefighter/Advanced EMT Eli Grizzard

❤️ Think you may be having a heart attack? Don't drive yourself to the hospital. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Early recognition and treatment save lives.