About Emergency Medical Services Bureau 

The Emergency Medical Services Bureau (EMS) is dedicated to the provision and support of the Toledo Fire and Rescue firefighter E.M.T.-Basic’s and E.M.T.-Paramedics who provide care to citizens of Toledo who have become injured or acutely ill. The bureau provides quailty care through professionally trained personnel and the use of modern emergency equipment.

Education

All Toledo Firefighters are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s). New recruits are provided a 130-hour EMT-Basic course as part of their initial training. Recruits are then required to pass the National Registry of EMT’s exam for State certification. Our members have the opportunity to receive advanced training to the level of certified EMT-Paramedic as department needs change. Continuing education is provided by the TFRD Training Bureau. This training enables personnel to maintain required certifications, while at the same time improving the level of care provided to the citizens of Toledo. Continuing Education for paramedics is currently provided by Lucas County Emergency Medical Services and enables paramedics to maintain required certifications.

Basic Life Support Response (BLS)

The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department (TFRD) uniformed personnel are trained to a minimum level of Emergency Medical Technician- Basic. These Firefighters/EMT’s provide Basis Life Support (BLS) first response to citizens and visitors of Toledo. The TFRD, in 2007, instituted a new service to the citizens in the form of BLS transport. This service has enabled fire personnel to respond, treat and transport those people in our city who are in need of basic emergency care.

Automatic External Defibrillator

All Toledo Fire and Rescue apparatus are equipped with the most advanced pre-hospital cardiac monitoring equipment available and trained personnel to operate them. According to the American Heart Associations 2018 annual report, the occurrence of non-traumatic cardiac arrest in the out-of-hospital environment is a major health concern that strikes down approximately 356,461 people annually, 90% are fatal. The American Heart Association has promoted the “chain of survival” concept. The chain of survival outlines the patient’s best chances of surviving a cardiac arrest and living a viable and productive life. The four links in the chain of survival are early access, early CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) ,early defibrillation (AED) and advanced care. The third link in the chain of survival is the accessable AED. Toledo Fire and Rescue Department is committed to having AED’s on all units to be utilized for life saving defibrillation in the event of a cardiac arrest.

Advanced Life Support Response (ALS)

Advanced life support response in Toledo is a cooperative effort between TFRD and Lucas County, which provides equipment with tax dollars generated from Lucas County residents. TFRD Paramedics staff six Lucas County Life Squads and numerous ALS capable response units that are located throughout the City of Toledo. Their mission is to reach the patient and begin the provision of ALS care in a safe, efficient and expedient manor.

Medics on Bikes (MOB)

The Medics on Bikes program utilizes TFRD firefighters and eight (8) mountain bikes to provide EMS coverage at large scale events throughout the city. This allows for rapid response of personnel into congested areas that would not be easily accessible to mobile response units. Examples of such events are fireworks, parades and numerous events that are held on Toledo’s riverfront.

Quality Assurance

The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department will exhaust all efforts to ensure that the best possible service is being provided to citizens of Toledo.

Notice of Privacy Practice

The City of Toledo Fire and Rescue Department (“the Department”) is required by law to maintain the privacy of certain confidential health care information, known as Protected Health Information (“PHI”), and to provide you with a notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI.  The Department is required to abide by the terms of the version of this Notice currently in effect. The Department is also required to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI. To see the entire document click: Notice of Privacy Practice

 

Emergency Medical Services Bureau Staff

Deputy Chief Tim Clapp was appointed to the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department on July 16, 1993. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1999, Captain in 2007, Battalion Chief in 2013, and to Deputy Chief on March 7, 2022 . Deputy Chief Clapp is a Hazardous Materials Technician and is also trained in Confined Space/Trench Rescue and High Angle Rescue. During his career he has worked at stations 9, 19, 21, house Captain of station 17, and Senior Battalion Chief assigned to “B” Platoon.

Chief Clapp is currently assigned as the Deputy Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau, EMS Bureau, and Health & Wellness.

timothy.clapp@toledo.oh.gov


Battalion Chief Kirk Keane  was appointed to the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department on July 7, 1997. He was promoted to Lieutenant March 15, 2013, Captain on June 1, 2018, and to Battalion Chief on December 10, 2021.

Battalion Chief Keane is currently assigned Emergency Medical Services Bureau.

kirk.keane@toledo.oh.gov

 

Emergency Medical Services Bureau

One Government Center, Suite 1710
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Phone: 419-245-1275
Fax: 419-936-2917