General information
The North Slope Borough Fire Department Medevac Division partners with the Search and Rescue Department to provide critical care medical transport throughout the North Slope Borough. The fire department provides medical staff while search and rescue provides fixed and rotary wing aircraft, pilots and maintenance personnel. Patients may be transported from villages to a critical access hospital in Utqiagvik or tertiary facilities in Anchorage or Fairbanks. We also provide interfacility transfers between the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Utqiagvik and receiving facilities throughout the state.
The primary medevac aircraft are a Pilatus PC-24 and a Beechcraft King Air 350. Both fixed wing aircraft are configured to serve two patients at a time if needed. As many as 300 fixed wing missions are performed per year. Secondary missions are performed on Sikorsky S92 and Bell- 412 helicopter which can be utilized for patient transport or search and rescue. Either helicopter can be configured to transport a single stretcher patient. The helicopters may be used for patient transports from the villages when the fixed wing aircraft may be limited. Approximately 20 medical missions per year are performed in the helicopters.
Capabilities:
The fire department holds licensure from the State of Alaska as a critical care air ambulance service and can provide medical and trauma care for most adult and pediatric patients, including those requiring ventilatory support or blood administration. High-risk obstetrics and neonatal patients are typically referred to specialty teams. The NSBFD Medevac Division flies with 2 critical care flight paramedics on each team and can add a third provider if necessary. Fire department medevac division staff accompany the aircraft during search and rescue operations and are cross trained as air crewmembers in this role. Additional duties include ALS intercept and limited firefighting for the Barrow Volunteer Fire Department.
For specific questions about equipment or capabilities, contact the Captain-Medevac Operations.
Required Experience and Training:
Successful applicants generally need to have previous experience providing critical care in the setting of a hospital or another flight service. In general terms a paramedic needs 5 years of previous experience to work effectively in this role. Their role is critical to the team in providing logistical support and direct medical care. Physical fitness is also needed as the teams may find themselves performing strenuous activities at any time.
Flight paramedics are required to maintain an active Alaska paramedic license and additional certifications as conditions of employment. New hires will undergo a 6-month clinical orientation and probationary period. Flight paramedic certification is required within one year of hire. Members of the division are also cross trained in firefighting and search and rescue operations. Additional training opportunities may include routine continuing education, point of care ultrasound, advanced transportation or wilderness certifications and conference attendance.
Join the Team:
Medevac personnel are full-time employees of the North Slope Borough and are provided with health insurance, paid time off and other employment benefits. Retirement benefits are through the State of Alaska Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).
An interested individual should contact the Captain-Medevac Operations and discuss the requirements for joining our division or any other questions. In keeping with the North Slope Borough’s desire to develop local staff the fire department is pursuing a program to allow interested local individuals to accompany the teams on patient care missions.
Contact
Kalen K. Texeira, Deputy Fire Chief
Phone Number: (907) 852-0234
Fax Number: (907) 852-0235
Kyle Stangl, Captain Medevac Operations A-Shift
David Aromin, Captain Medevac Operations B-Shift
Phone Number: (907) 852-0234
Fax Number: (907) 852-0235
David Aromin, Captain Medevac Operations
For time sensitive inquiries or to request a medevac, contact NSBPD Dispatch at (907) 852-6111 and request the on-call medic
