Norton Fire Department Receives AI Ultrasound Devices for Paramedics, Thanks Donors

NORTON — Chief Shawn Simmons is pleased to share that the Norton Fire Department has purchased ultrasound devices and received training for using them, thanks to donor funds.

EchoNous ultrasound devices are used by paramedics to find “free fluid,” such as blood, in an individual who has suffered a serious injury. Using the device, paramedics can scan a patient’s body to determine if they are bleeding internally. The technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify organs that are being scanned, allowing first responders to find where a potential injury is.

Discovering an internal bleed as soon as possible can let first responders know if they should transport a patient to a local hospital or a trauma center. In the event of an internal bleed, decreasing the time that a patient is brought to a trauma surgeon impacts survival tremendously. In some cases, a patient may appear to be unhurt, but an ultrasound scan can quickly determine if there is a serious internal injury.

Additionally, the device can help identify suitable veins in an individual with poor vascular access who needs an IV.

The Norton Fire Department is one of only a few fire departments in Massachusetts with access to AI-assisted ultrasound technology.

The two ultrasound devices were purchased this fall, and John Ribeiro and Norton-based Ribeiro Enterprises donated funds for training on how to use the devices. The donation from the Ribeiro family allowed the training to be completed this week, under the direction of a Rochester, NY-based training company, Insonate Point of Care Ultrasound Education.

“On behalf of the Norton Fire Department, I want to sincerely thank Mr. John Ribeiro, his late wife Hilda and Ribeiro Enterprises for their generous donation to train all our paramedics in using this groundbreaking technology,” Chief Simmons said. “These devices will have a profound effect on the level of EMS care that our community will be able to receive, and I am proud that Norton is ahead of the curve with the addition of this lifesaving equipment.”

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