Emergency Medical Technicians

History

The Saginaw Township Police Department has had an Emergency Medical Technician program for many years. The program first started after former Sergeant Barry Young became an E.M.T. and continued on to become Saginaw County's first paramedic/police officer. He raised interest with the department and organized the first classes for E.M.T.'s in January of 1978. This is when our E.M.T. program officially began.

The primary reason for the program being instituted at this time, was that the fire department did not respond to medical emergencies. The police department could see a real need to fill this void with the number of calls for medical assistance.

The program was in need of extra funds for start up costs which included a vast array of equipment. The Wickes Foundation and Fashion Square Mall came to our aid with a grant to purchase most of what was initially needed.

Training

Officers take a minimum of 186 hours of class room training and 40 hours of clinical observation to become E.M.T.'s. Thereafter, they must take at least 30 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their state certification. The officers receive little in monetary benefits for this training and work, but the rewards are great when they make a difference in somebody's safety and many times, ultimately their lives.

All officers on the department are also trained in the use of A.E.D.'s (Automatic External Defibrillators). This is the newest and latest training for officers in our effort to serve citizens with the best pre-medical care possible.

Equipment

The Saginaw Township Police maintains five fully equipped, Michigan State certified, E.M.T. patrol cars. The cars are used in conjunction with regular police duties, and are not used to transport victims.

The cars are equipped with numerous pieces of medical equipment. Included are 'jump kits' that carry bandages, airways, blood pressure instruments, poison kits, glucose, oxygen tanks and related articles. The cars also carry blankets, cervical collars, various splints, KED devices for neck/back injuries. The latest piece of equipment to be made available to officers is the A.E.D..

This instrument is used for heart attack victims. It delivers a shock to the victim's heart when called for by the unit. It operates similarly to the units ambulances carry, except that it is fully automatic. The officer is not required to make any medical judgments about whether or not to shock the victim since it tells the officer what to do after it is connected to the victim. The department has several of these pricey units which were paid for through fund raisers and donations by local businesses.

Personnel

We currently have eleven E.M.T.'s and four Medical First Responders. These officers respond to all medical emergencies, when available, in addition to responding to regular calls for police service. All shifts have E.M.T.'s available to respond to calls for medical assistance.

The Saginaw Township Police Department is proud to be one of the few police departments in the State of Michigan that perform this type of service. Our officers have been credited with saving many lives over the years the program has been in existence. They also have prevented additional injury to countless others through the pre-hospital care given. The citizens of Saginaw Township have shown enormous support for the Saginaw Township Police Department, and one of the reasons is the E.M.T. program. With the continued support from our citizens and officers alike, our E.M.T. program will continue to have a positive impact for many years to come.

Crime Information Hot Line:(989) 791-7233

Crime Information Tip Line:(989) 791-7226