Ocean City Fire Department Announces new staffing shift that prioritizes paramedic presence

OCEAN CITY, Md – The Ocean City Fire Department will enhance its service delivery to the community by staffing two Paramedic Engines.

These Paramedic Engines will be staffed 24 hours a day with three Firefighter / EMS Providers, with at least one crew member being a Paramedic, in a move the department says will boost response times and services in the area.

“It is absolutely critical it is an enhanced service,” said Ocean City Fire Department Captain Richard Bowers adding that “They have the ability through proper drugs and training to insert iv into people getting them necessary drugs, they can breathe for people if they are not able to breathe and it’s not something other basis cvs trained personnel can do- they can other critical care things that provide and sustain life.”

He says the units will have both basic and advanced life support services on hand, pairing those capabilities and fire response, with 15 dedicated staff members ahead of the summer season.

“We are doing a hiring process, a matter of fact today we just finished a second round of interviews and we have a couple more to do this weekend so within the next few weeks we will hire additional personnel which will help offset additional staffing that is needed,” Captain Bowers said.

Bowers says he is proud to say that Ocean City’s survival rate for a heart attack is double the national average, at 16 percent compared to 9 percent nationally, a figure he expects to only grow with the new staffing.

“The flexibility, the response it allows us to have absolutely serves everyone in the town,” he said adding that none of it would be possible without the support of the Town Council and Manager.