On Thursday, November 19th the West Grove Fire Company was dispatched to a medical emergency at the Assumption BVM School in West Grove. Due to the nature of the call both Basic Life Support and Paramedic units were dispatched. Ambulance 22-2 was en route in less than a minute after receiving the call and Medic 94 followed shortly after. The responding units made their way down a very busy State Rd since school was ending for the day. Avon Grove High School buses did an excellent job in yielding to the emergency vehicles, giving the vehicles plenty of room to navigate.

Despite an excellent location report given by the Chester County Dispatch Center, the West Grove crew was still unsure of the location of the building within the campus. Upon arrival to the complex, it all became much clearer. The Assumption BVM staff were all aware that a medical emergency was occurring in the complex. They were already busy keeping traffic lanes clear for the emergency vehicles. Ignoring a cold driving rain, staff were stationed at every turn the responding units needed to make to point them in the right direction. Upon arriving at the specific location, staff walked the responders directly to the patient.

The West Grove Fire Company wanted to commend the administration and faculty of the Assumption BVM School for their excellent emergency preparedness. Fire Chief Eric Felker spoke with Principal Danielle White after the incident to express how well the event was handled. The school, as a whole should be proud of their efforts. Their planning and ability to act calmly saved precious moments in this response. As firefighters we know that saving time ultimately saves lives. We hope that more organizations will take the time to develop an emergency action plan.

The Fire Company suggests that when calling 911, know the exact location of the victim and the nature of the emergency. Your street address should be visible from the roadway. Have people stationed in order to guide EMS personnel to the scene. Keep fire lanes and traffic lanes clear. Identify people on your staff with medical training, so they may assist the patient and communicate with the 911 dispatcher. Clear the area of bystanders and furniture. Always know where the closest AED is located. Practice your emergency plan.