North Pole Fire Department Implements Pulsara

NORTH POLE, AK — It’s an open secret that there’s a lot of activity going on at the North Pole this time of year. Between checking the list twice, manufacturing toys, and prepping the sleigh and the reindeer, all hands are on deck to prepare for the big night on December 24th. 

But in spite of all the hustle and bustle, crews at North Pole Fire Department have taken time out of their busy schedule to improve communication around patient care. They’re implementing Pulsara—just in time for Christmas. 

North Pole, Alaska, “where the spirit of Christmas lives year-round,” is much more than a mysterious mythical location way up north. It’s also a home-rule city just southeast of Fairbanks, with a human population of about 2,500 (a current census of the elf population was not available). And yes, one of those residents really is Santa Claus, who is an active member of the city council and also happens to moonlight as the pro-tem mayor. North Pole is also home to the world-famous Santa Claus House, a Christmas store and sweet shop that's popular with tourists.

North Pole Fire Department—affectionately known as “Santa’s Little Helpers”—is a dedicated team of full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighters. Across their service area, they serve around 20,000 people, which includes the town of North Pole and the surrounding area. And, of course, a certain legendary toy workshop.

Photo: North Pole Fire Department

Crews are training to use Pulsara to capture important patient information and quickly communicate it to other EMS organizations and the hospital. So far, they love it. “It’s a nice app,” said Assistant Chief Tod Chief Chambers. “Scanning the driver’s license [to input patient information] blew me away.” According to Chambers, training has gone well, and onboarding has been smooth. "The crew has found it easy to use; we've already deployed it several times," he said. He says the app is well-designed and has been well-received by the team. 

Pulsara helps avoid miscommunication by bringing first responders, hospitals, and EMS teams together on a single, real-time communication channel. So if any mishaps occur in the workshop during the preparation for Christmas (which is a 364-days-a-year effort), NPFD will be able to transmit information about their patients directly to the hospital, or to any other EMS crews they may be handing off to. (Grandmas everywhere can breathe easy; if any accidents involving reindeer occur, rest assured, NPFD will be ready.)

Photo: North Pole Fire Department

The move to Pulsara is part of NPFD’s commitment to the community to provide excellent service. “NPFD remains committed to innovation, growth, and excellence in service,” they state on their website. “As the department moves forward, it will continue to focus on enhancing its capabilities, fostering a culture of training and professionalism, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and care for the residents of North Pole.”

With hospitals and other agencies in the region already on the platform, Chief Chambers said it’s been a smooth transition. "All the groundwork was laid for us to pick it up and start applying it," he said. “It has worked very well." Though the department is still in the process of training with Pulsara, Chief Chambers is impressed with the functionality he’s seen so far, and is excited for what’s to come in the future.

With Pulsara, North Pole Fire Department is giving their community the ultimate holiday gift: faster, more connected care. And while Santa delivers joy on Christmas Eve, the dedication of NPFD will continue to keep their community safe year-round.

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