Winter 2014 - FM Ambulance

F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE
VITAL SIGNS
Winter 2014
Compassion, Excellence, Community Service
Would You Know What To Do?
Imagine this – your brother and his wife have come to visit for the night on their way to a medical appointment in
Rochester the next day. You have a fun evening together, but in the morning, your brother starts complaining of
indigestion. All of the sudden, he collapses onto the bed. Would you know what to do?
This happened to David and Dean Lorenz on August 3, 2014. David and his wife Jeanine woke up that morning,
and shortly after that, David collapsed. Dean called 9-1-1. As he was on the phone with the dispatcher, he realized
that he was going to have to perform CPR on his brother. Luckily, his daughter Lindsey had recently taken a Health
Careers class at Fargo South High School and learned CPR. She had talked to Dean about the changes in CPR
– how chest compressions were more important that breathing.
Shortly after Dean started CPR, the Fargo Fire Department arrived on scene. They took over CPR, and when F-M
Ambulance Service paramedics arrived on scene, they attached the Lucas to David. The Lucas is a new, automatic
CPR machine; David Lorenz is one of the first patients in our area that it has been used on.
Due to the immediate, tiered response of everyone involved, David Lorenz is alive and well today. The entire Lorenz
family wants everyone to know the importance of learning CPR. Nationwide, 40% of people who experience cardiac
arrest in a pre-hospital setting receive CPR from a bystander. In the Fargo/Moorhead/WF area, that percentage is
much lower, at 33%.
F-M Ambulance Service, along with other local partnering agencies, will be hosting the second annual “Save a Life
Saturday” on February 14, 2015. The event will take place at West Acres mall. In less than 2 minutes, you can
learn how to do hands-only CPR and potentially save a life. F-M Ambulance Service encourages everyone to stop
by West Acres Mall on Saturday, February 14, 2015 and learn how to save a life.
Pictured (L – R):
Fargo Firefighters
Jeremy Engelstad,
Mike Neels and
Logan Johnson; F-M
Ambulance Service
paramedic Tyler
Tougas.
Seated is Dean
Lorenz, who received
the Citizens Lifesaving
Award for performing
CPR and helping save
his brother’s life.
Jason Eblen – Community Paramedic
F-M Ambulance Service is excited to announce that Jason Eblen has
successfully completed the Community Paramedic course through
Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie, MN.
The Community Paramedic Program closes gaps in healthcare by
expanding the role of EMS personnel. Through a standardized
curriculum, accredited colleges and universities train paramedics to
serve communities in a broader role.
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.
Eblen is the first of 5 paramedics from F-M Ambulance Service to
successfully complete the program. F-M Ambulance Service is hoping
to have community paramedics out in our community in the spring of
2015.
NDSCS 2014 Paramedic Class
On Friday, November 14, a Celebration of Achievement was held for the 2014 F-M Ambulance Service / NDSCS
Paramedic class. Trista Berg, a 2014 paramedic student, spoke about her perspective on the program, followed by
highlights from the year. Jesse Tischer, Chief Operating Officer from Sanford, was the guest speaker. The Student
of the Year was awarded to Mike Monson.
Members of the F-M Ambulance Service/NDSCS 2014 Paramedic Class:
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Trista Berg
Joshua Bierman
Jonathan Daeuber
Brooke Fletcher
Spencer Gebhardt
Lisa Hanover
Kimberly Herzog-Meng
Jay Huseby
Emily Luce
Michael Monson
John Morrisson
Lisa Mortenson
Amy Pflugrath
Shayla Streit
Cara Taschuk
Trisha Underdahl
Curtis Weible
Congratulations from everyone at F-M Ambulance Service!
ND NREMT Recertification
There have been many recent changes in National Registry recertification for
EMTs and Paramedics in North Dakota. The state of ND is working with the
National Registry of EMTs on a pilot project, which has changed some of the
requirements for recertification.
One of the more recent changes is the development of a “self-assessment tool”.
This is a 100 item multiple choice exam that was designed for EMS
professionals to assess their knowledge and help guide their studies in the next
recertification cycle. In May of your recertification year, you will receive a one
page guide showing you how you performed. The guide will provide
individualized areas that you should concentrate on when choosing continuing
education for your next recertification cycle. Exam results are not released to
anyone other than the individual who took the exam.
If you are recertifying in North Dakota, this year you will be required to take the
self-assessment tool before you can submit your recertification information to
the National Registry. Once you have logged in to your NREMT account, click
on “My Recertification”, and then click on “Manage Education”. You will then
be able to click on the link to take the self-assessment.
Did You Know…
Thief River Falls
The Emergency Medical Education Center at F-M
Ambulance Service has changed its name! We are
now Sanford Health EMS Education. Watch for our
new website, www.sanfordhealthemsed.org and our
new Facebook and Twitter pages. Until then, you
can find our classes listed on the F-M Ambulance
Service site, under “education”.
Every summer, Thief River Falls Area Ambulance
Service teams up with local businesses to reward area
kids who wear their helmets. When an ambulance
sees a child who is riding their bike or scooter wearing
a helmet, they will stop and reward them with a coupon
for free ice cream. When the child redeems the ice
cream coupon, they write their name and phone
number on the back. Each ticket is then entered into a
drawing for a free bicycle of their choice from Walmart!
The experienced staff and the great classes that we
have always provided are still here, and we are still
housed at F-M Ambulance Service. The new name
reflects our parent corporation, and we are able to
take advantage of the resources of Sanford Health
to help provide a wider range of classes and
services.
We are excited to serve you as Sanford Health EMS
Education!
This year, Paige Green and Micah Anderson were
chosen to receive a free bicycle. Congratulations to
the winners, and thank you to each child who wore their
helmet this summer!
2014 United Way Campaign
Employees at F-M Ambulance Service had a blast with the
2014 United Way Campaign, raising over $1000. The monthlong campaign had many different activities, including a
“Selfie Scavenger Hunt” and ended with employees voting for
the Executive Director Sherm Syverson to receive a blue
Mohawk. Thank you to everyone who participate and
donated!
Welcome to F-M Ambulance Service!
Welcome to all of our new employees!
F-M Ambulance Service is always looking
for good people to teach CPR. If you
know someone who might be interested,
please have them contact Reed at (701)
364-1711.
April Avelsgard
BJ Carlson
Ruth Danuser
Tim Schmeets
Deb Schumacher
Tom Taylor
Curt Weible
Dispatcher
PRN Educator
PRN Educator
Manager
PRN Educator
PRN Educator
EMT
FMA
FMA
FMA
TRFAA
FMA
FMA
FMA
The Rural Roundup
Commitment. This word can mean quite a few different things, but hearing it usually brings a sense of security.
Since 1982, F-M Ambulance Service has been committed to providing ALS (Advanced Life Support) service for both
Cass and Clay Counties. Many people wonder how the county model works – here is a short explanation:
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When 9-1-1 is called anywhere in Cass or Clay County, the Red River Regional Dispatch Center (RRRDC)
answers that call. Dispatchers at the RRRDC find out where the call is, make a determination of the seriousness
of the call using emergency medical dispatch codes, and send the appropriate rescue squad or ambulance
service to that call.
In Cass County, some communities have ambulance services that provide BLS (Basic Life Support), and other
communities have Quick Response Units (QRU) or rescue squads.
o In communities with ambulance services, that service will respond, start treating the patient and start to
transport. If the patient needs ALS service, F-M Ambulance Service will meet the transporting
ambulance, and a paramedic with ALS equipment will join the crew in the back of their truck.
o In communities with QRU’s or rescue squads, the EMTs and EMRs from that community will respond to
the location of the call and start assessment and treatment of the patient. F-M Ambulance Service will
then meet them at the location and transport the patient to the appropriate hospital.
In Clay County, F-M Ambulance Service provides ALS service (assessment, treatment and transportation)
everywhere other than the Barnesville area (Barnesville has their own ALS service and covers their own area).
Area EMTs and EMRs will start assessment and treatment of the patient until F-M Ambulance arrives.
F-M Ambulance Service also provides liaison services to some of the EMS agencies in Cass and Clay Counties.
Each month, a paramedic from F-M Ambulance Service attends the squad’s monthly meeting and updates members
on anything new at F-M Ambulance Service. The liaison will also provide monthly training and education upon
request.
F-M Ambulance Service is proud of its commitment to Cass and Clay Counties, and will continue to serve the people
of those counties as long as we are welcome and legally able to do so. Community members in these counties
should feel comforted by the fact that they have excellent first responders coming to help when emergencies arise
as well as a top-notch ALS service there to help in those areas if needed.
Did You Know…
That you can learn CPR in less than 2 minutes?
What:
Save a Life Saturday
When:
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Where:
West Acres Mall
Time:
12:00 – 5:00
Stop by
by to
to visit
visit us
us!and learn
Stop
to save a life!
“Mo-vember”
Who are these good-looking (and hairy) men?
Members of our education and IT teams participated
in “Mo-vember” as a reminder for men to get their
prostates checked! Lookin’ good, guys!
Sylstads Receive Donation
F-M Ambulance Service Paramedic Mike Sylstad and
his family (wife Brittany and son Brenner) received a
donation from the Forward Foundation provided by
Bank Forward.
Mike and Brittany were overjoyed when they found out
they were expecting triplets. Unfortunately, little girls
Olivia and Ainsley passed away in April. Their brother
Brenner, born prematurely, is home and doing well now.
The Sylstad family has been overwhelmed with financial
costs associated with the hospital stay by Brittany and
the babies.
Thank you to the Forward Foundation, from F-M
Ambulance Service and the Sylstads!
Health Highlight
Ebola – it’s a scary word for many people around the world.
F-M Ambulance Service has received many calls from
different EMS agencies asking “what are you doing to
prepare?”
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Dispatchers at the Red River Regional Dispatch
Center are screening calls to see if potential patients
may have or have been exposed to Ebola.
Responders have been trained to recognize the signs
and symptoms of Ebola.
F-M Ambulance Service has designated a special Ebola response team. If a call comes in as a potential
Ebola patient, our team is called and will respond. They have been trained on how to don (put on) and doff
(take off) their personal protective equipment as well as transport a potentially infected patient safely.
The Ebola situation in our country is constantly changing, and F-M Ambulance Service is working hard to stay upto-date on those changes. Ebola isn’t our only worry – responders on every single call should always be thinking
about personal protective equipment and infection control. Ebola has brought these worries into the spotlight for a
while, but everyone working or volunteering in EMS needs to think about this all of the time.
Winners!
Did You Know…
Why is this team of educators so happy? They
(unofficially) won the “Scenario Race” that was held
between the instructors and the paramedic students!
Good job, instructors!
That there are actually two ways to recertify your
National Registry certification?
Instead of the
“traditional” way that consists of continuing education
and other classes, you may also recertify by
examination to fulfill the requirements. This may be a
less expensive option compared to taking multiple day
refresher or NCCR courses.
If you do plan to utilize the examination option, you will
need to plan on completing it early so that you have
time to make additional plans if your exam is
unsuccessful.
You will only have one attempt to successfully
complete the recertification by examination. If you are
unsuccessful on the exam, you may still recertify by
meeting all education requirements and completing
the online requirements before the March 31 deadline.
Did You Know…
Every year, F-M Ambulance Service takes part in the Xcel Energy Holiday
Lights Parade. This parade attracts thousands of spectators throughout the
Fargo-Moorhead community and includes hundreds of participants that
decorate their entries with lights. F-M Ambulance Service participates with a
truck decorated with Christmas lights and a “patient” waving to spectators from
inside.
Paramedics and EMTs from F-M Ambulance Service will also be participating
in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign this year. “It is important for F-M
Ambulance Service to help out the Salvation Army whenever we can because
of everything that they do for the community and everything that they do for
F-M Ambulance Service,” says Don Martin, Operations Supervisor. 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 Christmas season, the F-M Ambulance Service Giving Tree will make its
second appearance. Ornaments with gift ideas will adorn the company
Christmas tree. Employees can choose an ornament and purchase the gift. FM Ambulance Service then donates the gifts to adults or children in need in our
area. Last year F-M Ambulance Service donated over 20 gifts to Churches
United for the Homeless.
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.