The Myrtle Beach Fire Department will introduce a new rescue app

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The Myrtle Beach Fire Department has a brand new resource with lifesaving technology right at their fingertips.

The new Handtevy app helps first responders make calls to the doctor faster and more accurately.

Capt. Jonathan Evans of the Myrtle Beach Fire Department said the app will help them better treat patients at the scene.

“We can use it for pediatrics and adults, it’s just that our pediatric patients can usually be a little more difficult because of their size,” Evans said. “The program allows you to select, say, a 3-year-old patient, where you can click and everything will be correct for that 3-year-old patient, rather than trying to figure out exact doses and so on.”

In addition to making sure EMS workers don’t make mistakes when administering medication to patients at the scene, the app can also call for additional help if needed or help keep the pace while emergency crews perform CPR.

Evans said the program will help people of all ages, but children will be particularly helpful.

“Especially with pediatric patients when they’re smaller because we have to regulate what drugs and dosages we give them,” Evans said. “Sometimes with the older method we used, which is called brass loading tape, it can be hard to see all the information that’s on there.”

He said they would only use this program if they had multiple people on stage and an extra set of hands, and then that person would be in the program. However, if there are only one or two defendants, they will do things as usual.

In addition to determining accurate medication doses, the app includes detailed protocols and checklists, and shows better outcomes for patients.

“We have to know what we’re talking about to know exactly what drug we need to push and all that,” Evans said. “But at the same time, it’s like, ‘was it 1.5 milligrams or 15 milligrams, I can’t read it on the paper,’ and that’s a big difference depending on what you’re pushing and what you’re trying to do, so again, it simplifies this process for us.”

Even though firefighters aren’t used to talking on the phone while on call, Evans said it’s a valuable tool that will be useful in the long run.

“We like our traditions and we’re used to doing it a certain way,” Evans said. “There’s this perception that you don’t have a phone, but at the same time, I think as we do it more and everyone sees the benefits over the what ifs, it’s going to be beneficial. Sometimes you have to change with the times to become better and to be close to society.”

The department began training with the new app in October and hopes to begin using it by the end of the year.

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Hannah Huffstickler is a News13 multimedia journalist. She joined the News13 team in January 2024 after graduating from Coastal Carolina University in December 2023. Follow Hannah on Facebook, X, formerly Twitterand Instagram. You can also read more about her work here.

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