Tag Archives: paramedics

General Safety Issues

APRIL IS NATIONAL 9-1-1 PUBLIC AWARENESS and EDUCATION MONTH

 For the past several days, we have learned to respect and appreciate our first responders, more than ever.  In Boston, we viewed the aftermath of two explosions, deliberately set to kill and hurt runners and bystanders at the Boston Marathon.  Within seconds, there were runners helping those who had been injured- police, firemen, SWAT teams, paramedics, EMT students, and physicians swarmed the scenes to treat and rush the victims to hospitals. 

Miles away, in the small town of West, Texas, again, the heroics were played out when a fire started near a fertilizer plant, and volunteer firefighters, paramedics and EMT students rushed to try to put out the blaze and assist with  injured.  Suddenly, the heat came too near ammonium nitrate being stored in the facility, and a huge explosion happened.  The explosion devastated a four-block radius of the plant, and many families have lost everything they had.  The death toll is now estimated to be 14, with the vast majority of those being first responders.  Approximately 200 persons were injured. 

It’s events such as these that we realize how truly important our first responders are.  This past week was spotlighted as National Public Safety Telecommunications Education Week, in order to promote awareness of proper practices when calling the emergency assistance number.  Behind the scenes, there are highly trained professionals who are the first persons to answer this life-saving number when a call is made.  Dispatchers take the calls and coordinate the response of emergency medical services, fire department, or local law enforcement.  

When 9-1-1 services are needed, we should understand how to place the call, as well as educate our children, too.  It is important that we describe the situation as carefully as possible, and give out any landmarks in order to assist the responders in finding your location.  Don’t text 9-1-1, as it won’t be received.  Don’t become frustrated with the dispatcher’s questions, as he/she probably already have a unit on the way, but it is helpful to the responding team to have as much advance information as possible. 

If you should call 9-1-1 by mistake, don’t hang up, because there will probably be a unit sent to your address.  Just stay on the line and explain what happened.  Teach your children never to play a prank call on anyone, especially that important number. 

Dispatchers are screened thoroughly and receive classroom and on-the-job training.  They are entrusted with medical information as well as the law enforcement side of the occasion. Stop and think how fortunate we are to have seen the display of courage that law enforcement, firefighters and medical teams play on an every-day basis.  It is times like these that we need to stop and be thankful that they stand at the ready.  And give a pat on the back to those dispatchers and others in the 9-1-1 call center that can save lives with a speedy response or just knowing how to talk to persons who are in highly emotional states at that time.

As has been mentioned several times: when there is an emergency, our fire departments, healthcare providers and law enforcement are headed toward the situation when everyone else is running away.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

MAY 20 – 26 IS EMS WEEK – THANKS TO THESE HEROES!

National EMS Week 2012 is May 20 – May 26, with Wednesday, May 23 – Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Day. This year’s theme is “EMS:  More Than A Job. A Calling,” and is sponsored by the American College of Emergency Physicians.

There are many great ideas and opportunities during National EMS Week, so start today to plan a great week to not only thank our EMTs & Medics but to promote safety to the community!   EMS Week was developed to bring together local communities and medical personnel in an effort to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line” and is strongly supported by American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) .  This is the week to educate the public.  The public should realize “who” EMS personnel are and what they, as citizens, can do to help support us. It is time for “us” (EMS field providers and organizations) to claim our week to make the public safer!

 “EMS Week is very important for us,” says Chris Stevens, PIO for Emergency Medical Services Authority’s (EMSA) Eastern Division in Tulsa, Okla. “It gives us an opportunity to bring what we do into the public’s eye. I’m always surprised by how many people think all we do is put people in the back of ambulances and drive fast to the hospital. We need to let them know paramedics and EMTs bring care and lifesaving service to patients as soon as we make contact with them.”

Emergency Medical Services, known more commonly as EMS, is a public safety service, as essential as police and fire services.  EMS is easily recognized when one sees emergency vehicles or helicopters responding to incidents in the community, but it is, in fact, much more. It is an intricate system of agencies and organizations; communications and transportation networks; trauma systems, as well as hospitals, trauma centers, and specialty care centers; rehabilitation facilities; and highly trained professionals—including volunteer and career pre-hospital personnel, physicians, nurses, therapists, administrators, government officials, and an informed public that knows what to do in a medical emergency. Each component in the EMS system has an essential job to perform as part of a coordinated system of care.

Responding to medical emergencies is the responsibility of local emergency medical services (EMS) systems. They represent a coordinated effort among many different organizations to deliver the best possible medical care to all patients.   Local communities use the EMS system model to design their own EMS system, using local resources to fill local needs. For instance, pre-hospital care, (one component of an EMS system), may be provided by a volunteer rescue squad, a hospital-based ambulance service, a fire department, a commercial ambulance service, or others.  We should appreciate all the Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, and Emergency Physicians and Nurses for their dedication to saving lives.  Thanks to these skilled persons who are on call 24/7, ready to serve.

 

Sources: American College of Emergency Physicians; BruNotes, Davesems

 

General Safety Issues

THIS IS NATIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES WEEK!

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Between May 15th through May 21st, communities and medical personnel come together to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day life saving of emergency medicine’s “front line.”  May 18th is a day set aside as Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Day.  FEMA regional Administrator Ken Murphy states that this is all about celebrating EMS providers – first responders, hospitals, emergency physicians and public health providers, with this year’s theme, “Everyday Heroes.” 

We citizens may take this front line of emergency medicine for granted, not fully understanding how much training and preparation has to be done to take care of us in an emergency situation.  Ambulances with trained staff, as well as our fire departments, police, and other agencies are on location quickly.  Some EMT’s and paramedics work with airplane and helicopter transports and are highly trained to keep patients stable until they reach a trauma unit for further care.  First responders serve not only those in cities and communities, but are stationed at remote sites such as offshore oil rigs.  They offer stand-by services at events such as concerts and ballgames.  Paramedics teach first aid courses to both company employees and individuals.  This enables all of us to be better prepared in times of emergencies. 

Our lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMT’s) and paramedics.  These professionals see various types of injuries, resulting from heart attacks, slips and falls, automobile accidents or gunshot wounds, requiring immediate medical attention.  EMT’s and paramedics assess the nature of the patient’s condition, and determine what emergency care is needed while they transport the patient to a medical facility.  

The EMT-Basic represents the first level of the emergency medical team.  He/she is prepared through training to care for patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by ambulance to the hospital under the direction of more highly trained medical personnel.  They have the skills to assess a patient’s condition and manage respiratory, cardiac and trauma emergencies.  These EMT-Basics know how to use and maintain common emergency equipment, such as backboards, suction devices, splints, oxygen delivery systems, and stretchers.  Once they have graduated from approved training programs, they must pass a written and practical examination administered by the State licensing agency or the NREMT. 

The EMT-Intermediate level has training requirements that vary by state.  Typically, this level requires 30 to 350 hours of training based on scope of practice.  They learn advanced skills such as the use of advanced airway devices, intravenous fluids, and some medications. 

Paramedic is the most advanced level of training for this occupation.  This level of caregiver has received training in anatomy and physiology, as well as advanced medical skills.  This training is most commonly conducted in community colleges and technical schools, which may result in an associate degree.  These programs may take up to one to two years.  Paramedics may become supervisors, managers, administrative directors, or executive directors of emergency services.  Some EMT’s and paramedics become instructors, or physician assistants.  

Hopefully, this week, you will stop and think about the important role our emergency medical providers play in our lives.  These folks are required to do much kneeling, bending and heavy lifting.  They are at a higher risk for contacting illnesses or experiencing injuries on the job.  Many times, they work long hours, and the work is not only strenuous but can be very stressful.  Their services are required 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  When you get a chance, say “Thank You” to a first responder for what they do. 

This article is dedicated to David, our son-in-law, who has been a Paramedic for years.  He was an executive director of pre-hospital services for a large Texas hospital prior to starting his own medical transport service.  A very knowledgeable and caring person, he truly is an “Everyday Hero.”