The Howard County Fire Services Department (HCDFRS) is a comprehensive fire and rescue service that provides a range of services to the community. Each station is assigned at least one motor and one paramedic unit, as well as other vehicles such as ladder trucks, heavy rescue squads, brushing trucks, foam and dry chemical units, and water tank trucks. Career staff work a rotating schedule of three shifts and 24 hours. The Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department (ECVFD) was the first formal fire department in Howard County, established in 1888 to organize a community firefighting team in the event of a fire.
The ECVFD, together with the HCDFRS, operates two fire stations, four engines, three ambulances, a heavy rescue squad and two brushing units. The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) offers an extensive paramedic program that focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become competent paramedics. The program includes courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, patient assessment, airway management, medical emergencies, trauma management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), neonatal resuscitation (NRP), and other related topics. The HCDFRS paramedic program also provides students with hands-on experience in the field. Students are given the opportunity to practice their skills in real-life scenarios with experienced paramedics. This allows them to gain valuable experience in providing emergency medical care in a variety of settings. The HCDFRS paramedic program is designed to prepare students for certification as paramedics.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. Upon passing this exam, they are certified as paramedics and can begin working as paramedics for HCDFRS or any other fire department or ambulance service. In summary, the Howard County Fire Services Department provides comprehensive paramedic services to its community. The HCDFRS paramedic program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become competent paramedics. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the NREMT exam and become certified paramedics.
