2002 IPMBA
EMS Bike Operations Survey Results
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Compiled by: John R. Watson, Jr., Hobbs Fire Department, Hobbs, NM
Number of responses: 27
Many thanks to all personnel who took
the time to answer the survey. I was truly surprised to see the extent to
which bicycle teams are utilized in the US and other countries. Please note
that none of the respondents answered 100% of the questions, but the survey
did yield some good information. Ride hard and be true to yourself.
~ John Watson
Departments: Sussex County EMS (DE), Everett FD (WA), Boston EMS (MA), Arlington
County FD (VA), Orange County Fire/Rescue (FL), Troy FD (OH), MAST Ambulance
(MO), North-Central Mountain Bike Patrol (MN), Williamson Medical Center
(TN), Cypress Creek EMS (TX), WKU Police (KY), Jacksonville Sheriffs Office
(FL), The Voluntary EMS (London), James City Volunteer Rescue Squad and James
City FD (VA), Williamsburg FD (VA), Gretna Police Department (LA), Hobbs
FD (NM), Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Service (CT), Denver PD (CO), Fremont
FD (CA), Bangor FD (ME), University of Pennsylvania Police Dept., Saginaw
Township Police Dept. (MI), GWU-EmeRG (DC), Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
(MD); no agency named (2)
How long have you been a bike medic?
Responses range from 0-12 years
Average: 4.5 years
Number of medics with 1-5 years: 17
Number of medics with 6-12 years: 9
How long has your agency had an EMS Bike Team?
Responses range from 1 to 10 years
Average: 4.7 years
Number of agencies with 1-5 years: 13
Number of agencies with 6-10 years: 11
How many members does your EMS Bike Team have?
Responses range from 0 to 60 bike medics
Average: 15.3 bike medics
Number of Services with 1-20 bike medics: 22
Number of Services with 21-40 bike medics: 4
Number of Services with 41-60 bike medics: 1
What level of EMS care does your EMS Bike Team offer?
a) ALS: 14
b) ILS: 2
c) BLS: 8
d) First Responder or lower: 3
Does your unit patrol:
a) Every shift: 3
b) Seasonally only
c) Special event stand-by only: 25
d) Other: weekends, weekends in tourist areas and bike paths, mountain bike
trail patrol, year-round, park patrols, every shift as PD and as EMS on special
events.
Do your team members operate:
a) Solo: 23
b) In pairs: 5
Is your unit funded by:
a) Department budget item: 23; budget but not a line item (1)
b) Outside donations: 9
c) Other: self financing (2), state EMS funds, grants, Volunteer Auxiliary,
anywhere we can; bikes were donated; cost is part of special event permit;
fundraisers; event organizers are asked to make a donation to cover expenses.
Do you have mandatory training sessions?
a) Yes: 14; minimum IPMBA trained (2); four-hour combination in-class and
riding; every Saturday; eight-hour combination in-class and riding; prior
to special events; every spring; IMBA National Mountain Bike Patroller (NMBP)
Training; monthly; annually; in-house training; initial certification only.
b) No: 14
Do you have a selection process for future members (e.g., fitness test)?
a) Yes: Physical fitness test and timed ride with equipment; pass IPMBA EMS
course (2); timed two-mile ride with P.T. assessment at end; control testing;
NMBP standards; tnterview and group exercises; through training; prospects
ride with other paramedics; extensive process; members required to have approval
of officer and meet attendance goals.
b) No: 14
How many calls do you respond to during an average shift?
Responses range from 1 to 12 calls
Average: 5.5 calls
If you work special events, how many events do you work annually?
Responses range from 2 to 90 events
Average: 20.6 events
What type of events do you work?
Fairs, holiday celebrations, parades, duathalons, running events, Special
Olympics, marches, bike races, marathons, cycling routes, concerts, football
games, college commencement, NASCAR races, street festivals, bike rodeos,
mountain bike races, multi-sport adventure races, large dog shows, Boy Scout
Jamborees, PGA Golf Tournaments, music festivals, Mardi Gras, Hobbs August
Nights, air show, riots.
Do you charge for special event stand-by?
a) Yes: 10
b) No: 16
How do you charge?
By the bike per hour; by the hour; donation to Patrol; $250.00 for half day
to $500.00 for full day; depends on client; bill by four-hour block; one
team of two by the hour; flat rate of $250.00 that can be waived.
Do you preplan events?
a) Yes: 24
b) No: 2
How do you carry your equipment?
a) Panniers (full or partial set): 23
b) Fanny pack: 4
c) Trailer: 0
d) Other: rack pack (4); hydration packs with cargo areas (1)
What equipment do you carry (e.g., defib, O2, etc.)?
AED (11), manual (1), Lifepack 12 (1), Zoll 12 lead, LP 5 (1), O2, 1st line
ACLS, bandaging, BLS and ALS Airway, pulspulse ox, IV supplies, BLS drugs
set, trauma kit, two rounds of county protocol drugs, OB kit, Pediatric Response
Bike.
What is the approximate total weight of your equipment?
Responses Range 16-50 lbs
Average weight: 29.8 lbs
What drugs do you carry? Please include narcotics.
None (5); Epi, Lido, Cardizem, Bicarb, D50, Adenosine, Atropine, Albuterol,
Calcium, Atrovent, Solumedrol, Valium, Versed, MS, Sux and Vech; Glucose,
Bicarb, Glucagon, ASA, Epi 1:10,000 and 1: 1,000, Atrovent, Albuterol, Benadryl,
Narcan, Atropine, Lidocaine, D50, BLS units carry glucose and epi pens; wide
range with MS, Versed, Vallium; Epi 1:10,000 and 1:1,000, Narcan, Nitro tabs
and spray, lidocain, brethine, Albuterol, NaCl 0.9%, Adenocard, Lasix, Benadryl
50 mg; Narcotics and ACLS; First line ACLS, no narcotics.
Does your service operate with Standard Operational Guidelines?
a) Yes: 19
b) No: 7
How many bikes do you have in service?
Responses Range from 2-29 bikes
Average: 8.8 bikes
Are your bikes
a) Assigned to personnel: 6
b) Checked out as needed: 17
c) Other: patrollers use own bikes
Does your unit participate in bike rodeos or other bike safety education?
a) Yes: 15
b) No: 11
Have you or anyone from your department experienced damage to you bike
due to theft or vandalism?
a) Yes: 4 bikes stolen at three departments; one stolen pannier
b) No: 23
What injuries have you experienced while training or patrolling?
a) None: 1
b) Scrapes or bruises: 17
c) Sprains, strains, etc.: 4
d) Dislocations, fracture, worse: 3
Did this injury result in lost time on the job?
a) Yes: 1: 6-8 weeks, 2 months, 2 days, 3 weeks
b) No
Does your department keep bike team statistics?
a) Yes: 12; number and nature of calls; size of crowd; patient care forms,
hours patrolled, trails patrolled. Mardi Gras week only.
b) No: 15
Specific questions regarding the results of this survey may be directed to
John R. Watson, Jr., (Hobbs Fire Department, Hobbs NM) at
jrwjr049@aol.com.
© 2002 International Police Mountain Bike Association. |
