BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. – Bradford County Fire Rescue has initiated a new community program to raise health and safety awareness among residents.
In May of this year, BCFR introduced the Community Paramedicine Program. This program supports individuals in various areas, including substance abuse education, chronic disease management, hospital discharge follow-up, and connecting them to community resources — all at no cost to the patients.
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“This newly formed program within our department will provide assistance, resources, and training for people who are opioid users or those who are at risk of being addicted to opioid drugs,” BCFR wrote in a post. “Community Paramedicine is a proven, proactive approach and solution to offer quality care and preventative services. Programs utilize paramedics to provide guidance and care while helping residents become more independent from the emergency system and use current available resources.”
“We want to ensure that people receive the help they need, understand their prescriptions, and find the right resources available to them. The community needs to know that we are here to support them. Additionally, we want everyone to understand that our program is more than just a substance abuse and opioid initiative. We offer a wide range of services beyond that,” said Division Chief Dylan Rodgers.
Lieutenant David Weeks has been actively engaged with the community since the program began and is now witnessing its growth.
“We have a veteran who uses a wheelchair and needs assistance, so we helped him build a wheelchair ramp. It’s the small acts like this that we strive to establish in the community. Another example is someone who has just been discharged from the hospital with new medications and is uncertain about how to take them,” said Lieutenant Weeks.
The program aims to address the frequent 911 calls received from residents regarding non-emergency situations.
Although the program is available throughout Florida and primarily focuses on addressing the opioid crisis, Bradford County’s goal is to help its citizens with other issues.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 76% of overdoses result in death each year. The opioid overdose crisis has become a significant public health issue.
Bradford County is one of several counties in Florida that received opioid abatement funding as part of a settlement. The funds will go towards life-saving care, addiction-focused specialists to help patients stabilize, and recovery aided by various social services.
Who Qualifies?
- Opioid Users: Substance Abuse
- Patients with Chronic Disease—Illness
- Rehabilitation patients
- Patients who have difficulty accessing healthcare resources
- Mental health issues
If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, feel free to call 904-977-1938 or email BCFR_CRP@bradfordcountyfl.gov for more information.