Eli Gutierrez

As an EMT in LA County I provide BLS care to patients and assist ALS care in any way I can. I run calls with Los Angeles County Fire Department, Montebello Fire, Sante Fe Springs Fire, and other agencies around LA County. I transport patients from the scene to nearby hospitals. While on scene and in transport, I monitor patients and document necessary information for the report that is written after the call. Other duties include daily ambulance checks, making sure the ambulance is clean and organized for service, and daily training with a partner. Training could be anywhere from medical training to understanding where the hospitals are around the county.

As a Firefighter 1, I work on Pacheco Handcrew and respond to vegetation fires, structure fires, vehicle fires, rescues, and most other 911 calls. I have been on other hand tools on my crew and learned how to construct fire line and put out fires with them, but now I am the first saw on my crew so my duties as a lead sawyer on active fires are removing fuel from the fires edge, felling small trees that may threaten the integrity of our fire line, and and felling larger trees in a hazard area under the supervision of a B faller. On project assignments, I work with my chainsaw and cut to prescription, or I train with my capitan to obtain my B faller card. I am one of the few EMTs on my crew so in the event of a medical emergency, weather on a fire or not, I am rendering care to whoever needs it. In the event of a rescue I will work in unison with my crew to make sure the job is completed safely and efficiently. On a day to day basis I will also assist my capitan and engineers with any computer or paperwork pertaining to fires or project work. I am involved in training when need be and will set up presentations for the crew. Also, I am often requested when crew members need help in the kitchen. Other daily duties include cleaning, tool maintenance, and cooking.

As an EMT, I worked in house for Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue to gain experience and help the citizens of my hometown. Daily duties included checking the ambulance and all equipment on it, cleaning the facilities, training, and typically losing at cards, which meant cooking. I responded to medical calls, traffic collisions, and sometimes fires. If we were called to an incident with our FF paramedics, I would assist by setting up IVs, applying 4 and 12 leads, obtaining vitals, preparing Narcan, holding C-spine on trauma patients, cleaning and/or wrapping wounds, performing CPR while they intubated or got the AutoPulse device, and safely driving code 3. Training typically included a piece of equipment from our ambulance so I could be as familiar with the equipment as possible. While on ALS calls, my FF paramedics I worked with would usually show me how equipment of theirs worked if we used it or told me some new terminology that would help me understand what they were asking for in the future. On BLS calls, I would obtain medical history, a list of medications, and other pertinent information for pass off at the hospital. I made sure to deliver the best customer service to the people of Costa Mesa.

While working for a short time in Orange County, I gained experience in how to assist with ALS interventions and learned how to write PCRs and transfer patients. Daily duties included checking out the ambulance and equipment, restocking the ambulance, and cleaning post stations. I worked in the county transporting patients to local hospitals and helping with BLS skills. Skills included getting manual vitals, applying 4 and 12 leads, and preparing IVs. Training me and a partner would be about skills or learning our area and what hospitals received what kind of patients.

I joined the CCC with no experience. To gain experience as quick as possible, I worked with as many tools as I could when working on projects and worked out as much as I needed to to get on the fire crew. The Resource crew required me to be proficient in using hand tools such as mcleods, pulaskis, and shovels. Duties of the resource crew involved cleaning the center, participating in fuels projects, and training for response to natural disasters. After promoting onto the Fire crew, I obtained my A card for the chainsaw, Wildland Firefighter 1, and many other certifications to become a Wildland Firefighter. Our crew responded to vegetation fires, rescues, and other natural disasters. Training for the crew involved all of these as well as EMS and leadership courses. While at Los Pinos, I worked towards promotion and volunteered on my days off for the city of Lake Elsinore. We participated in food/toy drives, trail clean ups, lake clean ups, and other public events. One major thing I learned was how to work, cooperate, and LIVE with such a diverse group of people are working towards the same goals.