Cypress Creek EMS
Encyclopedia
Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) is an emergency medical service provider in Northwest Harris County in Houston, Texas
. CCEMS is one of the most reliable EMS services in Houston. All ambulances in use by CCEMS are MICU or Mobile Intensive Care Units, with at least one Paramedic
, making all ambulances ALS
units. CCEMS has a service area of approximately 250 square miles (647.5 km²) and has 10 stations, a communication center that dispatches both fire and ambulance, and an education center.
The community desperately raised funds to establish the service and they soon purchased their first ambulance
. At this time, all of the CCEMS staff were volunteers with no reinbursement for their services. To this day, volunteers are a large and integral part of the staff and they range from non-medical drivers to emergency medical technician
s.
The service relied heavily on donations and fund-raisers as it did not receive government funding. Third-Party billing was initiated in 1993 and allowed Cypress Creek EMS to bill insured patients to help with reimbursement. CCEMS is affiliated with Emergency Services District 11 and is now funded with area tax dollars.
One of the notable things about CCEMS are their bright red uniforms. CCEMS is one of the very few services in the country that wears red uniforms. In order to keep an image of professionalism, members wear the uniforms year round as opposed to other services who may permit their members to wear shorts or polo shirts during the summer time.
The main fleet today consists of over 15 MICU Type III ambulances, five supervisor vehicles, a utility vehicle and a mobile communications command vehicle.
The first responder program allows qualified members to respond to calls in their surrounding area before a medic unit arrives.
CCEMS also has a bike team that performs first response at large events such as parades and festivities.
Cypress Creek EMS is not in direct connection with Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department. They are however affiliates and CCEMS provides EMS services to the CCVFD area.
guidelines in:
Cypress Creek EMS also has a training program for Tactical Medics, which allows trained emergency medical techinicans to provide support to tactical law enforcement officers.
Medic 521, Medic 522, Medic 523 and Medic 524 are known as "Peak Trucks"; 12-Hour Ambulances that cover the district of regular 24-hour ambulances that are currently responding to a call. There are usually 2-4 peak trucks operating regularly.
When Champions VFD announced the demolition of their old station, Medic 55 moved its quarters to Grant Road and became Medic 58. Now that the new Champions VFD station has opened, Medic 55 has moved back to being a part of Champions VFD Station 11. Even though Medic 55 moved back into quarters, Medic 58 still exists on Grant Road in the old Cypress Creek VFD station.
within the service district of CCEMS, it is rerouted to the CCEMS Communication Center. The dispatcher
then asks a series of questions to determine the situation. Once a determinant is formed, an ambulance
is dispatched to the location. The dispatcher remains on the phone with the caller and asks additional questions to gain information about the event as well as determine the level of priority. The dispatcher also uses the information gained to determine whether the responding crew will need additional assistance such as Fire Department
, Law Enforcement, Life Flight
, or help from the on-duty supervisor. At this time, the ambulance is en-route and the information gained by the dispatcher is communicated to the ambulance crew.
From when the crew is en-route to the emergency, to when the crew is cleared from the hospital, they remain in contact with the comm center through portable radios, and cell phones. All trucks also have a Mobile data terminal
(MDT) that allows them to transfer information without using online communication. The CCEMS Comm Center also works with other dispatch centers such as the Harris County Sheriff's Department
and surrounding area EMS dispatch centers to provide and receive mutual aid
.
The Comm Center dispatches fire apparatus in addition to ambulances in the area. The following fire departments are dispatched through the CCEMS Comm Center:
The CCEMS Comm Center uses the Field Response Guide by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. CCEMS is one of the most reliable EMS services in Houston. All ambulances in use by CCEMS are MICU or Mobile Intensive Care Units, with at least one Paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
, making all ambulances ALS
Advanced Life Support
Advanced Life Support is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend Basic Life Support to further support the circulation and provide an open airway and adequate ventilation .-Components of ALS:These include:...
units. CCEMS has a service area of approximately 250 square miles (647.5 km²) and has 10 stations, a communication center that dispatches both fire and ambulance, and an education center.
History
In 1975, a tragic event occurred in which a man died from a heart attack without pre-hospital care. Afterwards, The FM 1960 Community (The stretch of FM 1960 between I-45 and SH 249), took the initiative to form an emergency medical service which came to be known as Cypress Creek EMS, named after the large creek that runs through the area.The community desperately raised funds to establish the service and they soon purchased their first ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
. At this time, all of the CCEMS staff were volunteers with no reinbursement for their services. To this day, volunteers are a large and integral part of the staff and they range from non-medical drivers to emergency medical technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s.
The service relied heavily on donations and fund-raisers as it did not receive government funding. Third-Party billing was initiated in 1993 and allowed Cypress Creek EMS to bill insured patients to help with reimbursement. CCEMS is affiliated with Emergency Services District 11 and is now funded with area tax dollars.
One of the notable things about CCEMS are their bright red uniforms. CCEMS is one of the very few services in the country that wears red uniforms. In order to keep an image of professionalism, members wear the uniforms year round as opposed to other services who may permit their members to wear shorts or polo shirts during the summer time.
The main fleet today consists of over 15 MICU Type III ambulances, five supervisor vehicles, a utility vehicle and a mobile communications command vehicle.
The first responder program allows qualified members to respond to calls in their surrounding area before a medic unit arrives.
CCEMS also has a bike team that performs first response at large events such as parades and festivities.
Cypress Creek EMS is not in direct connection with Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department. They are however affiliates and CCEMS provides EMS services to the CCVFD area.
Clinical Department
The Charles R. Hooks Education Center located on Five Forks Dr, is a state of the art education facility which provides training programs for Emergency Care Attendants, EMT-Basic, and Paramedics. Cypress Creek EMS also offers training by the American Heart AssociationAmerican Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
guidelines in:
- Heartsaver First AidFirst aidFirst aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
,
- Friends and Family CPR,
- Heartsaver CPR,
- Healthcare Provider CPR.
Cypress Creek EMS also has a training program for Tactical Medics, which allows trained emergency medical techinicans to provide support to tactical law enforcement officers.
Stations
- Medic 51 - Rolling Creek Dr, Ponderosa Area
- Medic 52 - Treaschwig Rd
- Medic 53 - Perry, Near SH 249
- Medic 54 - Stuebner Airline, at Hooks Airport
- Medic 55 - Champions Forest Dr
- Medic 56 - FM 2920 and Spring Cypress
- Medic 57 - Bammel N. Houston
- Medic 58 - Grant Rd
- Medic 59 - Five Forks Dr
- Medic 510 - Lee Rd
- Medic 501 - Rolling Creek Dr, Ponderosa Area
- Medic 591 - Five Forks Dr
Medic 521, Medic 522, Medic 523 and Medic 524 are known as "Peak Trucks"; 12-Hour Ambulances that cover the district of regular 24-hour ambulances that are currently responding to a call. There are usually 2-4 peak trucks operating regularly.
When Champions VFD announced the demolition of their old station, Medic 55 moved its quarters to Grant Road and became Medic 58. Now that the new Champions VFD station has opened, Medic 55 has moved back to being a part of Champions VFD Station 11. Even though Medic 55 moved back into quarters, Medic 58 still exists on Grant Road in the old Cypress Creek VFD station.
Communication Center
The Communication Center, or Comm Center for short, is the primary communication link between the public and CCEMS. When an individual dials 911 and it is determined to be a medical emergencyEmergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
within the service district of CCEMS, it is rerouted to the CCEMS Communication Center. The dispatcher
Dispatcher
Dispatchers are communications personnel responsible for receiving and transmitting pure and reliable messages, tracking vehicles and equipment, and recording other important information...
then asks a series of questions to determine the situation. Once a determinant is formed, an ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
is dispatched to the location. The dispatcher remains on the phone with the caller and asks additional questions to gain information about the event as well as determine the level of priority. The dispatcher also uses the information gained to determine whether the responding crew will need additional assistance such as Fire Department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
, Law Enforcement, Life Flight
Life Flight
Memorial Hermann Life Flight is an air medical transport service based in Houston, Texas. Life Flight flies into 12th floor of the John S. Dunn Heli-Stop atop Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. It was founded in 1976.-History:...
, or help from the on-duty supervisor. At this time, the ambulance is en-route and the information gained by the dispatcher is communicated to the ambulance crew.
From when the crew is en-route to the emergency, to when the crew is cleared from the hospital, they remain in contact with the comm center through portable radios, and cell phones. All trucks also have a Mobile data terminal
Mobile data terminal
A mobile data terminal is a computerized device used in public transit vehicles, taxicabs, courier vehicles, service trucks, commercial trucking fleets, military logistics, fishing fleets, warehouse inventory control, and emergency vehicles to communicate with a central dispatch office...
(MDT) that allows them to transfer information without using online communication. The CCEMS Comm Center also works with other dispatch centers such as the Harris County Sheriff's Department
Harris County Sheriff's Office
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency serving the over three million citizens of Harris County, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in the 1200 Jail in Downtown Houston.As of the 2000 U.S...
and surrounding area EMS dispatch centers to provide and receive mutual aid
Mutual aid (emergency services)
In emergency services, mutual aid is an agreement among emergency responders to lend assistance across jurisdictional boundaries. This may occur due to an emergency response that exceeds local resources, such as a disaster or a multiple-alarm fire. Mutual aid may be ad hoc, requested only when...
.
The Comm Center dispatches fire apparatus in addition to ambulances in the area. The following fire departments are dispatched through the CCEMS Comm Center:
- Champions Volunteer Fire Department
- Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department
- Klein Volunteer Fire Department
- Ponderosa Volunteer Fire Department
- Spring Volunteer Fire DepartmentSpring Fire DepartmentThe Spring Volunteer Fire Department is a combination fire department located in Spring, Texas, in unincorporated Harris County. It is the third largest volunteer fire department in Harris County following Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department and Pasadena Volunteer Fire Department...
- Little York Volunteer Fire Department
- Westlake Volunteer Fire Department
- Northeast Fire and Rescue
- West I-10 Volunteer Fire Department
The CCEMS Comm Center uses the Field Response Guide by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.
Awards
- Best Advanced Life Support System in Texas - 1985
- Paramedic Emergency Medical Service of the Year for the United States - 1986
- Excellence in Heath Care Award - 1995