Columbia Fire Department now carries EpiPens as calls climb for youth experiencing anaphylactic shock

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A small tool now being used by the Columbia Fire Department could be the key to saving lives.

CFD began carrying EpiPens in January, a decision that had been about a year in the making. According to CFD Chief Brian Schaeffer, each ladder truck is stocked with at least one EpiPen and is located within the emergency medical equipment.

The drug works to treat a severe allergic reaction, as known as anaphylaxis and has the ability to save a someone's life.

"When we're making that decision on what type of equipment to carry, what type of supplies to purchase, this is really a no-brainer for us. We haven't had them before, so we're moving forward," Schaeffer said.

According to Schaeffer, CFD went through a period of training and worked with its medical doctor from MU Health Care before rolling them out. Schaeffer said all firefighters have been trained on how to use the EpiPens. They cost between $200-$300 each, depending on the brand, and last for about a year. Thirteen EpiPens were ordered, along with one spare.

When Fire Station 10 opens, one will be purchased for that station, according to EMS Battalion Chief Edward Kehrer. The EpiPens were paid for by money budgeted through the city.

Schaeffer said the fire department has been seeing a larger number of calls for children that are experiencing anaphylactic shock from accidentally eating a peanut they were allergic to, or another allergy of some sort.

Although they haven't had to use the EpiPens since rolling them out, Schaeffer said it allows them to have the answer in case there is an emergency in any of Columbia's neighborhoods.

"This is a situation where we've needed the tool and we haven't had it. From our experience, we don't want to be in a situation where we have to wait or we have to rely on a neighbor or somebody else's dose to be able to access the life-saving medication," Schaeffer said. "It certainly has the potential to reverse the consequences of anaphylaxis and save people's lives. Everybody from a child all the way up to the end of life."

ABC 17 News reached out to MU Health Care and Boone Health, who are both in support of the changes. MU Health Care spokesman Eric Maze wrote via email that the hospital believes it will allow for rapid administration, a sentiment echoed by Boone Health spokesman Christian Basi.

"It’s yet one more way that the first responders here in Columbia team together to do our best and protect the health of our community. The Boone Health team is very appreciative of the collaboration we have with other first responders in mid-Missouri," Basi wrote in a Monday statement.

CFD is also utilizing other approaches to provide more advanced life support. It requested $133,500 from the city to start a paramedic pilot program. The funding was approved by the Columbia City Council during its Jan. 5 meeting, according to the city's agenda.

According to a council memo, the funding was requested to buy two cardiac monitors, all needed advanced life support supplies needed for two fire companies, as well as EpiPens for all frontline apparatus.

The memo points to changing ambulance deployment rates and response of the two advanced life saving providers over the years. It states both providers face constant challenges, such as staffing problems and the increasing cost for service, all of which can lead to patients waiting longer to receive care.

According to Schaeffer, the pilot program will launch sometime in March. It will consist of at least one paramedic at Stations 2 and 5 each day. The program means that the fire department's response to medical calls will look a lot different, and paramedics will carry medications that people would typically see in an emergency department.

Schaeffer said this will allow them to be able to treat people in their homes, on the street, or anywhere else they're asked to respond to.

The paramedics will have a "dual role" of firefighter and paramedic, meaning they can potentially transition from fighting a fire, to providing care to someone in need. Schaeffer said 58% of CFD's incidents are EMS related.

He also said paramedics will only serve a certain neighborhood or battalion, meaning they won't be sent out of town on transfers. Schaeffer said they've budgeted roughly two years into their timeline to gather data for the program and determine if it's something they want to roll out for the entire city.

Schaeffer also said as Columbia grows, the EMS system that the city has continues to have other responsibilities, such as providing care to surrounding cities, which can create challenges.

Schaeffer said their paramedics will work with paramedics that are on ambulances to ensure there isn't a gap in care. He said that oftentimes CFD is the first one on scene, and instead of waiting for the paramedic to arrive, they can begin care and then transition it to the transporting paramedic.

"That's what a good EMS system looks like and that's where we're hoping to get to, but we don't know until we gather the data. So, we're going to be running this pilot which is two companies and see how it goes," Schaeffer said. "See if our organization can support it and if the outcomes that we expect are actually what are realized, if having paramedics truly helps people stay healthier, if they're able to reverse consequences, severe injury or illness."

According to Schaeffer, the city decided to roll the program out in fire stations two and five after using its AI-powered software, Darkhorse Emergency. He said the software has the capability to look at calls, frequencies, distribution and consequences and then model that into the future. He said they came up with scenarios with an overlay of critical calls that have occurred within the past five years; and out of that recommendation came Station 2 and 5.

"We expect to have the most experience in the quickest time at those two stations. That'll give us data that we need to make further decisions as we move toward a decision," Schaeffer said.

The long-term impact of funding for the program will depend on the two-year trial.

ABC 17 News asked the Boone County Fire Protection District if it's considering carrying EpiPens. Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said they're in the process of figuring out where they would keep them and when they plan to deploy them.

"We've all been trained on the use of the EpiPen. We can use other people's EpiPens if it's prescribed to them, we can assist them in using it. But as far as carrying it, we're still in that process working with our medical director to make that happen," Blomenkamp said.

The Jefferson City Fire Department also does not currently carry EpiPens.