A National Leader in Emergency Medical Services
DC Fire & EMS is the 3rd largest health care provider in DC. Their employees respond to 400 to 500 medical calls for service per day. These calls range from cardiac arrests, strokes, heart attacks, and traumatic injuries to cold viruses, trips and falls, and mental health emergencies.
Prepared for All Hazards
All DC Fire & EMS first responders are medically trained as nationally registered Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or paramedics. That’s why you often see fire trucks responding to medical calls. Our paramedics administer life saving medications and other interventions, including intubation and needle decompression.
21 of 33 engine companies are paramedic engine companies, which means that if you are having a life-threatening emergency, you can have a paramedic and team of EMTs at your door in 4 to 6 minutes who will start treatment while the ambulance is on the way.
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Photo by Eliot Goodman @DCFIREBYE
Right Care, Right Now
DC Fire & EMS is national leader in diverting non-emergency injuries and illnesses from EMS and hospital systems to primary care with its 2018 launch of the Right Care, Right Now Nurse Triage Line. In 2023, the Department partnered with the Department of Behavioral Health to open the DC Stabilization Center to better care for patients with substance abuse disorder.
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DC Fire & EMS is on the front lines of the nation’s health care crisis – and they are part of the solution.
Hands on Hearts
The Department's Hands on Hearts program has trained over 90,000 people in hands only CPR. An increase in bystander CPR has contributed to the District of Columbia's improved cardiac arrest survival rate since 2015.
