Mount Pleasant, SC Firefighters Train as Paramedics

Mount Pleasant firefighter Jan van Vliet moved to the United States about a decade ago. Last week, the measured Dutchman was one of the first Mount Pleasant firefighters to graduate from paramedic training.

The town's fire department is putting highly trained medical professionals on all its engines by 2010.

Charleston County EMS will continue to serve the town, but now, if the fire department arrives to the scene first, lifesaving care will be available when seconds count.

"Every time we go to a call, a cardiac or an allergic reaction, there is a need for advanced medical care," said van Vliet.

The inaugural paramedic class of 12 firefighters completed more than 1,000 hours of training. Families sacrificed time together for firefighters to go on ride-alongs with Charleston County EMS crews, perform clinicals and spend hours at the kitchen table studying.

Van Vliet's wife, Kelly, said, "After a 24-hour shift, he'd have an eight-hour clinical. Then the kids would come home and want to play soccer, and he'd say 'OK. Let's go.' "

With English as his second language, van Vliet said he studied twice as hard as his classmates. For that extra effort, he was one of two graduates recognized by their peers with an academic achievement award.

Mount Pleasant Councilwoman Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, former chairwoman of the town's Fire Committee, spearheaded the creation of the paramedic training program.

Speaking at the ceremony last week, Stokes-Marshall said, "Knowing that we have prepared our fire department to deliver the kind of service that will save lives, that's a very comforting feeling."

Alonzo Smith, director of EMS and trauma for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, said that Mount Pleasant is one of the first in the state to place two paramedics on every engine.

The first graduating class will staff two of the town's five engines around the clock.

A sixth engine is expected to go into service next year at Carolina Park. All six will carry the same equipment found in an ambulance, but the fire department will not have the ability to transport patients.

The town has $385,000 budgeted this fiscal year for the program. Six more firefighters are expected to begin training in the summer.

Van Vliet did not hesitate to pursue paramedic training when it became available. As firefighters answer more medical-related calls, the need for cross-training was clear.

Six years ago, van Vliet worked as a Realtor, and he owned a deck- and window-cleaning service. One day, he impulsively stopped at a Mount Pleasant fire station to look at the truck. He started talking to the firefighters, and one month later, he was in a rookie class.

He's not in it for the rush, however. "You cannot get excited at all, or you make the wrong decisions," he said.

Van Vliet wants to serve others. "There's no feeling better than helping someone in need," he said.

Paramedics see a side to life few people do. One of the speakers at graduation said, "You'll see people as they really are, how they really live. People will bare their bodies and souls to you."

On the night of the ceremony, van Vliet's three children stayed close by. Charlie, 7, sat in his father's lap and examined his chin. Molly, 9, traced with her finger the badge on his arm. And as van Vliet talked to his fellow graduates, 5-year-old Jack swung from his arm.

The graduates

Mount Pleasant firefighters who completed the paramedic training course are:

--William Barnes

--Stephen Bellew

--Michael "Sean" Carroll

--Ricky "DJ" Desjardins

--Kenneth Franks

--Andrew Frattaroli

--Robert Gergory

--Christopher Hawver

--Craig Oliverius

--George Parr

--Matthew Townsend

--Jan van Vliet

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