F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE VITAL SIGNS Winter 2017 Compassion, Excellence, and Community Service Save the Date Save a Life Saturday February 10, 2018 Did you know that every 90 seconds, someone dies of cardiac arrest? Forty percent of pre-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR across the United States, but in the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo area, that number is only 33%. The length that a cardiac arrest victim goes without CPR is directly correlated to their chance of survival the longer the victim is without CPR, the lower their chance of survival. Most people who experience cardiac arrest at home, work, or in a public location die because they don t receive immediate bystander CPR. By knowing CPR, you could save the life of someone in cardiac arrest. On Saturday, February 10, 2018 F-M Ambulance is teaming up with other EMS agencies from around our community to host the fifth annual Save a Life Saturday. Participants will be able to learn and practice hands-only CPR in less than 4 minutes. Every year nearly 350,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest, including an estimated 6,328 victims under the age of 18. Seventy percent of those cardiac arrests happen in a home. Would you know how to help if it was someone that you love? Early CPR and early defibrillation are proven methods to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in our community. To learn more about hands-only CPR before Save a Life Saturday, visit handsonlycpr.org, or go to www.fmambulance.com. You could be the person who makes a difference in someone else s life.
Did You Know Every year, F-M Ambulance participates in the United Way of Cass-Clay campaign. This year, Shannon Butler was named the 2017 chili and soup champion and our Day of Caring team got to help Paulette out with some yard work and light housekeeping. The 2017 campaign was a huge success THANK YOU to all who participated! 2017 Skills Fair F-M Ambulance employees recently completed the 2017 skills fair, which included a few new medications, airway skills and a cot obstacle course! FMA On Thursday November 30, over 1,000 students practiced hands-only CPR at the 15 th annual Health, Tech and Trades Career Expo at the Fargodome!
It s a Boy! F-M Ambulance personnel worked with two officers from the West Fargo Police Department to deliver a baby boy at his home on October 20. The police officers and F-M Ambulance were dispatched to a woman in labor and upon arrival, they found the mother having contractions. Shortly after the responders arrived, a baby boy named Beckham John Welk was delivered to proud parents Nikki and Erik Welk. On November 3, the paramedics and officers who delivered Beckham had the opportunity to meet him again when they received a Stork Award. This award is given to those who assist in the delivery of a baby under emergency circumstances. This year, WFPD has helped deliver three babies. Jerry Decker Award On November 15, the Rural Cass County Ambulance and Rescue Association presented Kristi Engelstad, Clinical Learning and Development Specialist, with the 2017 Jerry Decker Award. Kristi oversees EMS outreach activities for F-M Ambulance, which includes coordination of training for Cass and Clay County EMS squads. The Jerry Decker Award is given annually to an EMS provider who exemplifies excellence and commitment to improving and supporting rural EMS in Cass County, ND. The award s namesake, Jerry Decker, was a dedicated volunteer EMT who went into cardiac arrest and died while transporting another cardiac arrest patient for Hunter Ambulance Service in 1992. Kristi has been an F-M Ambulance team member since 2001. Congratulations, Kristi! Crystal Amundson EMT TRF Chenoa Bumpus Intern FMA James Busch Paramedic TRF Cameron Cundiff Paramedic FMA Preston Degerman EMT FMA Dylan Diemer Intern FMA Stephanie Jorgenson EMT TRF Brandon Mallea Paramedic FMA Haley Meier EMT FMA Anna Ringhofer Paramedic FMA Inga Smith Dispatcher FMA Welcome to the Team! Are you an EMT or paramedic who is interested in working for F-M Ambulance, Hillsboro Ambulance or Thief River Falls Area Ambulance? We would love to talk to you! Check out sanfordhealth.jobs to see what positions we have available!
The Clinical Corner Winter is here, and that means that it s time to think about staying warm! In cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced, which can lead to serious health problems. Check out some tips from the CDC on how to spot and treat hypothermia and frostbite: Star of Life The Star of Life is not only F-M Ambulance s logo, it is also the international logo that represents Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Originally, many ambulances in the US used a safety orange cross on a square black background of reflective white to designate them as emergency units. This logo was used before any national standards were established. The Star of Life was trademarked by NHTSA in 1977 and given to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians after the trademark expired in 1997. FROSTBITE A victim is often unaware of frostbite because frozen tissue is numb. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite A white or grayishyellow skin area Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy Numbness or a pins and needles feeling HYPOTHERMIA Hypothermia often occurs at very cold temperatures, but can occur at cool temperatures (above 40 ), if a person is wet (from rain, sweat or cold water) and becomes chilled. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS Shivering Exhaustion Confusion Fumbling hands Memory loss Slurred speech Drowsiness The six branches of the star are symbols of the six main tasks executed by rescuers throughout the emergency chain: 1. Detection: The first rescuers on the scene, usually untrained civilians or those involved in the incident. They observe the scene, understand the problem, identify the dangers to themselves and others, and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety (environmental, electricity, chemicals, etc.). 2. Reporting: The call for professional help is made and dispatch is connected with the victims, providing emergency medical dispatch. 3. Response: The first rescuers provide first aid and immediate care to the extent of their capabilities. 4. On-scene care: The EMS personnel arrive and provide immediate care on-scene. 5. Care in transit: The EMS personnel proceed to transfer the patient to a hospital via ambulance or helicopter for specialized care. They provide medical care during transport. 6. Transfer to definitive care: Appropriate specialized care is provided at the hospital.
Since winter is here, it s time to remember some basic winter driving tips! - Pay attention - Turn on your headlights and wear your seatbelt - Turn off your cruise control when the roads are slippery, wet or snow-covered - Let your engine warm up while you clear off any snow or ice on your car - Remember to clear snow off of the front and rear lights and all windows - Check weather reports with the State Highway Department before leaving for trips Winter Driving Tips - Try not to travel if blizzard conditions are expected - Carry a car safety kit this should include blankets, matches, candles, high energy dry foods, a flashlight with spare batteries, a first aid kit, map, ice scraper, flares, tow rope battery jumping cables, folding shovel, a bag of sand, winter gloves, cell phone, and an emergency HELP sign that you can put in the back window if you need help - Decelerate well in advance of a stopping point or turn - Bridges and overpasses freeze quickly, be careful on these surfaces - Always keep your gas tank at least half full in case you get stuck somewhere - Make sure your windshield wipers are in good shape and work well - Check your tires. Make sure they are properly inflated and the tread is in good condition - Be more observant. Visibility is often limited in winter by weather conditions. Slow down and watch for vehicles that have flashing lights, such as snowplows - Allow extra time to get places when weather is not perfect - If stalled, stay with your vehicle and try to conserve fuel while maintaining warmth - Always wear your seatbelt it could save your life See a snowplow? Here are some additional tips to keep you safe: - Be patient, and remember that snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip - Slow down allow at least five car lengths, and preferably 10, between your vehicle and the plow - Stay behind the snowplow and watch for plows turning or exiting - Plows may travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions - Don t drive into a snow cloud
Did You Know F-M Ambulance loves to take part in community holiday events! Every year, F-M Ambulance Service takes part in the Xcel Energy Holiday Lights Parade. This parade attracts hundreds of spectators throughout the Fargo-Moorhead community and includes participants that decorate their entries with lights. F-M Ambulance Service participates with a truck decorated with holiday lights and had employees handing out candy. Paramedics and EMTs from F-M Ambulance Service participated in the Salvation Army s Red Kettle Campaign again this year. It is important for F-M Ambulance Service to help out the Salvation Army whenever we can because of aa everything that they do for the community and for F-M Ambulance Service, says Don Martin, Operations Manager. The Salvation Army provides food and drinks, as well as other services, to first responders during fires and other major catastrophes in our area. F-M Ambulance Service is appreciative of everything that the Salvation Army does for us, and this is one way that we can give back to them. This F-M Ambulance Giving Tree will make another appearance this holiday season. Ornaments with gift ideas will adorn the tree; employees, students and community members can choose an ornament and purchase the gift(s). On Christmas Eve, the gifts are loaded into an ambulance and transported to Churches United for the Homeless. Last year FMA donated over 25 gifts to the adults at the shelter. If you are interested in donating, stop by F-M Ambulance and pick out an ornament from the tree!
The Sanford Health EMS Education (SHEMSE) team has been busy! Check out all of the exciting things happening! The EMT portfolio pilot project in North Dakota is in its fifth class this fall. This pilot is working on changing the current practical testing from a checklist to a scenario-based test. The goal is to gradually include other training centers and then require it statewide by 2019. The feedback has been positive so far. Tom Dobrzynski and Nicole Henning attended the EMS Expo in Las Vegas in October. They will be sharing the clinical and education sessions they attended with the rest of the education team over the next several months. Ron Lawler and Tom Dobrzynski presented several topics at the Southwest North Dakota Regional EMS Conference in Medora in September. Many of the department s instructors will be presenting at the state and regional conferences across ND and MN from January through March. The American Heart Association Heartcode option for CPR training is getting more popular. This hybrid class allows students to complete an online course instead of lecture. They then come to our office for a hands-on skills evaluation. Many people find this fits their busy schedules better than a 3 to 4-hour face-to-face class. Education Director Ron Lawler has been chosen as a Site Visitor Team Captain for the Committee of Accreditation of EMS Education Programs of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs. The site visitors conduct meetings at paramedic programs across the country to ensure that they are meeting the accreditation standards. Kelly Wanzek and Tom Taylor attended a moulage mastery course this fall. They learned some great techniques for improving how we use trauma makeup with our simulated patients. This will make our simulations even more realistic for all levels of training. Ron Lawler was honored to again participate in a North Dakota National Guard State Partnership Program mission to Accra, Ghana in September. The team spent two weeks with the leadership of the National Ambulance Service helping them with EMS education, data collection/analysis and other topics. SHEMSE is sponsoring another Ghana student in the paramedic program this year. Christiana arrived in August and will be staying with a host family while she completes her paramedic certification. She is not looking forward to winter! Tom Dobrzynski presented a session on how to effectively use video conference technology in education at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. This was part of their professional development Teaching and Learning Day for all of the college s faculty. We hope that you have enjoyed this edition of Vital Signs, a quarterly newsletter distributed by F-M Ambulance. An electronic edition of Vital Signs can be found on our website, www.fmambulance.com. If you have any ideas, questions, or comments about Vital Signs, please contact Kristi at 701-364-1759, or kristi.engelstad@fmambulance.com.