F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE VITAL SIGNS Fall 2014 Compassion, Excellence, Community Service F-M Ambulance Service Company Picnic The weather was a bit rainy on Thursday, July 10, but F-M Ambulance Service employees and their families still enjoyed a meal at Rheault Farm in Fargo. The kids enjoyed playing on the playground equipment and running around while the adults enjoyed chatting over dinner. Company awards were announced at the picnic. Nikky Johnson (picture below), Wade Hockert (pictured below), Bob Barber, Jon Rude and Amanda Danielson were awarded the Achievement in Excellence Award, which is awarded to employees who provide compassionate, competent and quality pre-hospital care and transportation while maintaining a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement to the community and each other. Many employees were awarded their Years of Service awards. Nathaniel Dutt (pictured below) was awarded the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Chapter EMS Award which is an award given to a member of the F-M Ambulance Ceremonial Unit for obtaining high performance standards in 2013. Sean Knodel and Ted Werre were honored for three years of service, and also for their commitment to their country, as both are currently on military deployments. Their sacrifice is greatly appreciated by everyone at F-M Ambulance Service. Did You Know That F-M Ambulance Service has a Facebook page? Learn more about our service, meet our paramedics and EMTs, and see what we do every day! Check us out and like us!
Company Picnic Photos SIM ND Adds OB Manikin With only 11 hospitals in North Dakota that deliver babies, emergency healthcare providers need to be well prepared to respond to any obstetrical scenario or emergency. Simulation in Motion-North Dakota (SIM-ND) purchased four Lucina Maternal Fetal Simulators for its mobile learning labs in order to deliver hands-on learning to 150 EMS units and 35 critical access hospitals that don t offer routine OB services. The birthing simulator offers reliable, realistic training for childbirth maneuvers and emergency response when time is short and teamwork is essential. Jason Eblen, QA/QI Specialist with F-M Ambulance Service and SIM ND trainer, recently completed Train the Trainer class to learn how to use the new manikin. Eblen says, This is the most realistic OB manikin that is available in our area. It provides an automated delivery, which means that instead of instructors pushing the baby out, the manikin will automatically do that by itself. It s also set up with three modules to train on emergencies that occur before, during, or after labor. Hillsboro Ambulance Service, along with some hospital personnel recently trained with the manikin and said it was incredible. For more information on SIM ND training, please contact Amy at (701) 777-5619.
Recertification Guidelines Change in ND Question: I need to recertify this year. How do I do that? What do I need to do? Answer: It depends on a few things The state of North Dakota is part of a pilot program with the National Registry. This pilot program is changing the way that recertifications have been done. Minnesota is not included in this pilot program, so if you are recertifying in MN, you can do the same thing as you have done in the past. If you are recertifying in ND with an ND agency affiliation, the refresher program that you have gone through in the past has changed to a recertification course comprised of continued competency requirements. The recertification program has three parts National Continued Comeaaaaaaaaaa Competency Requirements (NCCR), Local Continued Competency Requirements (LCCR), and Individual Continued Competency Requirements (ICCR). Provider Level NCCR LCCR ICCR Total Hours EMR 8 4 4 16 EMT 20 10 10 40 Paramedic 30 15 15 60 There are three ways to obtain your NCCR hours from F-M Ambulance Service. Any of these choices are available to your either in person at F-M Ambulance Service or via WebEx. 1. NCCR classes will be held every Wednesday from 7 9 PM, beginning on September 17, 2014 and continuing until approximately January 28, 2015. Or you can 2. Attend a weekend class. There are two options January 30, 31 and February 1, 2015, or February 27, 28 and March 1, 2015. Or you can 3. Attend a combination of #1 and #2. Each 2 hour session has a name, for example, Module A-1. If you attend all of the Wednesday classes but missed the night of Module D-2, you can attend that during one of the weekend classes. You can attend these classes in person or via WebEx. If you are joining us via WebEx, class attendance will be taken at different times throughout the presentation to ensure your attendance. We have tried to be flexible and hope that this will work with most people s schedules. To connect via WebEx for a Wednesday night session, you will need to register for the course by Tuesday at 1200. To connect via WebEx for a weekend session, you must be registered by Thursday at 1200. If you are not registered by those times, you will not be able to attend the course via WebEx, but are still welcome to come in person. On the day of the course you will receive an email with a link to get into the course along with specific requirements for joining via WebEx. You will be required to connect to the course 10 minutes prior to the start to get credit for the course (and to work out any kinks so that our speaker can start on time). If you will be using WebEx, it is suggested that you have external speakers for better audio performance. The cost for each module is $30.00. For more information on the new recertification process or to register for the recertification courses, please see the F-M Ambulance Service webpage www.fmambulance.com, or call the education department at (701) 364-1750 at speak to Joe or Tom. Dates and times for each course can be found on our website.
What s new in Cass and Clay Counties? The Rural Roundup Many county squads have been doing landing zone training with Sanford AirMed. The squad members spend about 1.5 hours going over when and why to call AirMed, how AirMed works and what they can (and can t) do, and then the members set up a landing zone for the helicopter. If time and weather permit, some members even get to go on a quick helicopter ride! Bob Klein was awarded the Jerry Decker award. This award is given annually to an EMS provider for outstanding dedication and service. Jerry Decker was a volunteer with Hunter Ambulance Service. In 1992, Decker responded to a cardiac call; while he was transporting the patient he suffered a heart attack and died. Decker s life was filled with the need to help others; during his life, he was also a peace officer and a firefighter. In appreciation for all that he has done for the ambulance squads in Cass County, and because his life is also filled with the need to help others, Bob Klein was given this award. Congratulations, Bob! Welcome to F-M Ambulance Service! Trista Berg EMT FMA Dwayne Chevalier Paramedic FMA Joe Dickson Educator FMA Blake Ebert Dispatcher FMA Brooke Fletcher EMT FMA Kayt Frost EMT FMA Matt Hons EMT FMA Connor Hutton EMT TRFAA Kyle Janssen Educator FMA Stephen Leard EMT FMA Mike Monson EMT FMA Chris Roisland EMT TRFAA Randy Schatz EMT TRFAA Carmen Wang Education FMA Sam Welle Paramedic FMA Austin Yancy Paramedic FMA Welcome to the team!
Awards F-M Ambulance Service Director of Operations Chad Mickelson and Operations Manager Don Martin were both awarded the prestigious Department of Defense Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ESGR Patriot Awards is a way to recognize employers who provide extraordinary patriotic support to their employees who have answered their nation s call to serve. Sean Knodel and Ted Werre, paramedics with F-M Ambulance Service who are currently deployed with the Army National Guard, nominated Mickelson and Martin for the award. They said that both Mickelson and Martin have been extremely accommodating so that they are able to be both paramedics and soldiers. F-M Ambulance Service was also awarded the Above and Beyond Award from ESGR. The Above and Beyond Award is presented to recognize employers at the local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployments Rights Act by providing their Guard and Reserve employees a wide range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, granting leaves of absences if needed, and other similar support during, before and after their deployment. F-M Ambulance Service is proud to support their employees who continue to serve their country as a member of the Guard and Reserve, states Sherm Syverson, Executive Director of F-M Ambulance Service. F-M Ambulance Service, Chad Mickelson and Don Martin are very proud of the paramedics that work at F-M Ambulance Service and help protect our country. We are very thankful to Sean Knodel and Ted Were for nominating us for these prestigious awards. F-M Ambulance Service also has 6 other employees who are not currently deployed, but in the military. Did You Know That F-M Ambulance Service partners up with Culvers every summer for their helmet safety program? Culvers generously donates free ice cream coupons, and paramedics and EMTs from F-M Ambulance Service look for kids wearing helmets to reward them with a free scoop of ice cream! Thanks to Culver s and THANKS to all of the kids who wore their helmets this summer! Community Paramedic What is a Community Paramedic? The Community Paramedic Program closes the gap by expanding the role of EMS personnel. Through a standardized curriculum, accredited colleges and universities will train first responders at the appropriate level to serve communities more broadly. The Community Paramedic Program adapts to the specific needs and resources of each community. It will succeed through the combined efforts of those that have a stake in maintaining the health and wellbeing of its residents. Does F-M Ambulance Service have Community Paramedics? F-M Ambulance Service currently has 5 paramedics enrolled in a Community Paramedic program. These Community Paramedics should be ready to serve our community by next spring!
New Paramedic, EMT and EMR Classes Starting It s fall, which means that F-M Ambulance Service has a few new faces in our classrooms! Paramedic school recently started with 20 students. Students have the opportunity to attend face-to-face or online. The course consists of approximately 575 or 700 classroom hours (evening or day class) and an average of 1,200 clinical hours. F-M Ambulance Service s paramedic program attained national program accreditation through CAAHEP in 2007. The Program is affiliated with North Dakota State College of Science to provide students with college credits and the opportunity to earn an Associate's Degree. The first paramedic program F-M Ambulance Service was conducted in 1980. A class has graduated every year since then, with 2 classes a year graduating starting in 2005. EMT and EMR classes also recently began, with record numbers for the fall. Like paramedic school, students have the opportunity to attend the EMT class face-to-face or participate in an online, blended course. EMR classes are all conducted through an online and face-to-face blended course. For more information on any courses at F-M Ambulance Service, please go to www.fmambulance.com. Want To Learn More About F-M Ambulance Service? F-M Ambulance Service has two exciting opportunities for community members that start every fall: F-M Ambulance Service Citizens Academy The F-M ambulance Service Citizens Academy is a handson opportunity for community members to learn more about F-M Ambulance Service. The Citizens Academy meets on Wednesday nights from September 17 November 5 from 7:00 10:00 PM. The Citizens Academy educates participants about F-M Ambulance Service and emergency medical services, along with teaching them skills they can use in actual emergencies. The Citizens Academy is designed for community members 18 and older. F-M Ambulance Service Explorers The F-M Ambulance Service Explorers is a program designed for high school students who are interested in learning more about the emergency medical field. They will spend three hours each month in a shadow career program, which focuses on hands-on learning and experiences through participation with professional and successful Paramedics and EMTs. Some Explorers are able to participate in ride alongs during the program. The Explorers meet the first Monday of each month, October May, from 6:00 9:00 PM. For more information about the Citizens Academy or the Explorers program, please contact Laurie at (701) 364-1739.
Health Highlight Allergies and Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response that is marked by swelling, hives, lowered blood pressure, and dilated blood vessels. In severe cases, a person will go into shock. If anaphylactic shock isn't treated immediately, it can be fatal. This condition occurs when the immune system develops a specific allergen fighting antibody (called immunoglobulin E or IgE) that drives an inappropriate or exaggerated reaction toward a substance that is normally harmless, such as food. Your body may not react upon initial exposure but may produce antibodies with later exposures. When you are exposed to the substance later, the binding of the allergen to antibodies can lead to the presence of a large amount of a protein called histamine, which can then lead to anaphylaxis. What Are the Symptoms of Anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of the eyes or face and, within minutes, progress to more serious symptoms. These symptoms include swallowing and breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, and angioedema (swelling similar to hives, but the swelling is beneath the skin instead of on the surface). If you have symptoms of anaphylaxis, call 9-1-1 immediately. The condition can quickly result in an increased heart rate, sudden weakness, a drop in blood pressure, shock, and ultimately unconsciousness and death. Information from www.webmd.com Did You Know That F-M Ambulance Service is a strong supporter of the United Way of Cass-Clay? - Recently, employees were asked to bring in school supplies for the United Way School Supply drive. - F-M Ambulance Service will have employees volunteer for the Day of Caring, which helps local seniors with projects around their home. - All kinds of fun activities are planned for the F-M Ambulance Service annual United Way fundraising drive! Macy and Bailey Wanzek, daughters of Kelly Wanzek, helped pick up some school supplies for kids in need. 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.