From left: Native Air Lead Pilot Rudy Hernandez along with Battalion Chief Delbert Rivera. (Deming) - When it comes to taking care of the wellbeing of the citizens of Deming and Luna County, the City of Deming Fire Department is at the top of its game. In November of 2013, an air transport medical Roto Helicopter owned by Native Air became permanently stationed at Deming Municipal Airport. Back in 2005, the Fire Department also teamed up with Elite Medical Transport.
“Working with these two businesses has been a smooth transaction, Fire Chief Edgar Davalos said. “We are still in a learning process, it is always revolving, so we have been able to mold all this together in a team effort.”
The system for responding to 911 calls starts at central dispatch. Once central dispatch receives an emergency call, it then is dispatched to the Fire Department. From there, first responders head to a scene. It is quickly determined whether to dispatch a fire truck, ambulance, helicopter, or all may need to be sent to a scene.
Once on the scene, first responders will assess the situation whether it is cardiac, trauma, medical, stroke or level one. Level one is classified as a grave injury, acute cardiac or acute stroke. In case of a grave injury, the helicopter may be on standby at the airport or the first responders may call the helicopter to be in air stand by, in which case the helicopter hovers over a scene. The helicopter can quickly fly a patient to Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Texas and Arizona.
The City of Deming Fire Department has five ambulances with Elite Medical Transport backing up the city with two ambulances. If more ambulances are needed, Elite has the ability to call in other ambulances from surrounding areas. Elite handles 98 percent of the transfers from Mimbres Memorial Hospital to other hospitals in New Mexico and surrounding states.
“As a group we spend a lot of time serving this community,” Director of Operations Walter Kuykendall said. “Elite is committed to providing service to Luna County and the City of Deming.
“I am proud of this entire system we have put together,” Davalos said. “The key to this whole operation working is everyone working as a fine tuned team, starting with 911 central dispatch, Fire Department, Police Department, medics, Elite, Native Air and the hospital working in concert together.” Not too many towns the size of Deming have these types of services.
“Working with these two businesses has been a smooth transaction, Fire Chief Edgar Davalos said. “We are still in a learning process, it is always revolving, so we have been able to mold all this together in a team effort.”
The system for responding to 911 calls starts at central dispatch. Once central dispatch receives an emergency call, it then is dispatched to the Fire Department. From there, first responders head to a scene. It is quickly determined whether to dispatch a fire truck, ambulance, helicopter, or all may need to be sent to a scene.
Once on the scene, first responders will assess the situation whether it is cardiac, trauma, medical, stroke or level one. Level one is classified as a grave injury, acute cardiac or acute stroke. In case of a grave injury, the helicopter may be on standby at the airport or the first responders may call the helicopter to be in air stand by, in which case the helicopter hovers over a scene. The helicopter can quickly fly a patient to Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Texas and Arizona.
The City of Deming Fire Department has five ambulances with Elite Medical Transport backing up the city with two ambulances. If more ambulances are needed, Elite has the ability to call in other ambulances from surrounding areas. Elite handles 98 percent of the transfers from Mimbres Memorial Hospital to other hospitals in New Mexico and surrounding states.
“As a group we spend a lot of time serving this community,” Director of Operations Walter Kuykendall said. “Elite is committed to providing service to Luna County and the City of Deming.
“I am proud of this entire system we have put together,” Davalos said. “The key to this whole operation working is everyone working as a fine tuned team, starting with 911 central dispatch, Fire Department, Police Department, medics, Elite, Native Air and the hospital working in concert together.” Not too many towns the size of Deming have these types of services.
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