The FDCARES program is an evolving and growing community assistance program that is based in the arena of solving issues for people before an emergency takes place.  There are many issues facing the growing, aging, and health needs of society.  Solving of the individual issues for members of our community in an effort to prevent injury and or illness is “injury and illness prevention”.

The FDCARES program has been developed to interact directly with members of our community in an effort to prevent injury and illness.  This direct interaction will also aid in preventing the need for future emergency services for these individuals as well.  Emergency service prevention has a ripple effect.  It will assist in preventing ambulance transportations, emergency room visits, and associated costs to both the individuals as well as insurance providers.  This prevention can also keep emergency service providers available for more acute type incidents as well as keep hospital emergency rooms from being overcrowded and alleviate the need for patient diversions.

Frequently when a member of our community finds themselves in need of the emergency 911 system for low acuity type assistance it is because they have nowhere else to turn.  This first call to 911 is often times a predictor of future 911 use as emergency providers are able to correct the immediate problem that is taking place.  What hasn’t taken place to this point is corrective action that could have prevented this individual’s current need for emergency services or prevent future needs for the same service.

There are many different social services available ranging from local churches, to local government services, to County services, to State and Federal government services.  Although many of these social services can be very busy, there appears to be some disconnect from these various services and many members of society.  Many people are not aware that there are services available to assist them with their independent issues, let alone that there is something that can be done to assist them at all and that will directly, in a positive manner affect their life. The FDCARES program will connect members of our community to these social services.

The FDCARES program is here to assist the members of our community with their individual needs.  These needs are frequently identified by fire department emergency responders who have been called through the 911 system for assistance.  These fire department members using their regular incident reporting system, notifies the EMS/FDCARES division of community member needs and patient follow-up takes place from there.  Community members who are aware of their own needs will also be able to contact the FDCARES division directly for assistance by dialing the local area fire departments individual FDCARES phone number.