Save A Heart
Join REMSA and Scheels on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the 5th Annual Save A Heart event. Free CPR Awareness classes as well as a Heart Healthy living expo will provide everyone the opportunity to learn how to take care of your heart and the hearts of those you love.
Free blood pressure checks, exercise demonstrations, healthy eating options, and a Love you Lungs Obstacle course are just a few of the things that will be available for everyone to participate in this year. Using the American Heart Associations “Simple 7″ as a guide, we will be highlighting the 7 simple steps to a healthier heart in 2012 – Get Active, Control Cholesterol, Eat Better, Manage Blood Pressure, Lose Weight, Reduce Blood Sugar, and Stop Smoking.
In addition to heart healthy living learning opportunities, REMSA will be offering free CPR Awareness courses at the top of every hour. More than 900 people a day die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest and more than 80% of those happen at home. We are passionate about making sure you are prepared when it matters most, when it’s time to save a loved one.
This year, save multiple lives before you leave by donating blood. Follow the link below to schedule an appointment today, spaces are limited. The sponsor code is Simple.
http://www.bloodhero.com/index.cfm?group=op&step=2&opid=487755
So plan to stop by and learn more about living a heart healthy life. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Call REMSA for more information – (775) 353-0772
2012 Paramedic Program
Dates for the 2012 REMSA Paramedic program have been selected. The January Cohort is scheduled to begin on January 24, 2012 at 9:00 am.
Important Dates:
Entrance testing will be held on October 24, 2011 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm and on October 28th and November 5th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please logon to remsaeducation.com to register for a testing date.
Program applications will be due by 5:00 pm on November 11, 2011.
Interviews for candidates successfully completing the testing and application review will be held on November 21 and 22, 2011 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Please visit remsaeducation.com for more information as it becomes available and feel free to call 775-353-0781 if you have any questions. Applications will be available online as part of the entrance testing registration process.
Good luck!
Using an AED on Infants – New AHA Guidelines
According to the 2010 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, the use of an AED in infant patients is now a class IIb recommendation. This new information has been reviewed in Circulation as well as the Highlights publication put out by the American Heart Association.
One area you will not find this information is in the new Heartsaver materials. The AHA has not included this recommendation in the lay rescuer course materials including the manuals and course videos. Many instructors have asked why this topic has been omitted after so much discussion during the guidelines release.
Remember, guidelines do not necessarily make a distinction between Healthcare Provider CPR and Heartsaver CPR. The AHA has separated the courses into two different curriculums to meet the needs of the healthcare providers and the community lay rescuers.
Because use of an AED in infants is a class IIb recommendation, meaning the benefit may be greater than or equal to the risk and they recommend additional studies, the AHA has adopted the guidelines but has been very clear that a “more advanced defibrillator” is preferred over AED for use in infants. The AHA has also noted that cardiac arrest in infants most often caused by respiratory problems and as such AED use is less likely to be effective than it is in adults. Since the decision of which device should be used is best left up to advanced providers, the only classes that address this new guideline are ACLS, PALS, and Healthcare Provider CPR.
Instructors are encouraged to teach the current AHA curriculum and not deviate from the content outlined in the instructor lesson maps. Heartsaver courses are designed to provide the most basic content in the fewest amount of steps possible to ensure students leave with the skills and confidence necessary to perform when it matters most.
For more information on AED use in infants and pediatric patients visit the American Heart Association website and download the 2010 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
References:
2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC - Part 6: Electrical Therapies, Pages S710-S711
Highlights of the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC - Pediatric BLS, Pages 19-20
CPR FAQ’s - Questions a Student Might Ask
Learn CPR at Aces Stadium
REMSA and the Reno Aces will honor National CPR and AED Awareness week on Sunday June 6, 2010 by offering free Hands Only CPR Awareness classes. Hands only classes will begin at 11:30 on the lawn in front of the Aces Ballpark.
Special tickets for the game are available for purchase at www.renoaces.com by using “remsa” as the promotion code for single game ticket purchase.
Learn to save a life, stay for the game!
Playground Safety
Each year, more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment, this equates to one child being injured every two and a half minutes. Most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground. Many backyard play-sets are placed on dirt or grass–surfaces that do not adequately protect children when they fall. REMSA would like to remind parents of some important safety tips regarding playgrounds and their children.
Quick Checklist for Parents:
Place this list in a prominent area of your home for quick reference. Then, before your children head out the door for the playground, check that:
Supervision is present, but strings and ropes aren’t.
- Adult presence is needed to watch for potential hazards, observe, intercede and facilitate play when necessary. Strings on clothing or ropes used for play can cause accidental strangulation if caught on equipment.
All children play on age-appropriate equipment.
- Preschoolers, ages 2 – 5, and children, ages 5 – 12, are developmentally different and need different equipment located in separate areas to keep the playground safe and fun for all.
Falls to surface are cushioned.
- Nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries are related to falls to the surface. Acceptable surfaces include hardwood fiber/mulch, pea gravel, sand and synthetic materials such as poured-in-place, rubber mats or tiles. Playground surfaces should not be concrete, asphalt, grass, blacktop, packed dirt or rocks.
Equipment is safe.
- Check to make sure the equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed, bolts are not protruding, there are no exposed footings, etc.
Occurrence and Consequences:
- About 45% of playground-related injuries are severe—fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations.
- About 75% of nonfatal injuries related to playground equipment occur on public playgrounds. Most occur at schools and daycare centers.
- Between 1990 and 2000, 147 children ages 14 and younger died from playground-related injuries. Of them, 82 (56%) died from strangulation and 31 (20%) died from falls to the playground surface. Most of these deaths (70%) occurred on home playgrounds.
- In 1995, playground-related injuries among children ages 14 and younger cost an estimated $1.2 billion (Office of Technology Assessment 1995).
- While all children who use playgrounds are at risk for injury, girls sustain injuries (55%) slightly more often than boys (45%) (Tinsworth 2001).
- Children ages 5 to 9 have higher rates of emergency department visits for playground injuries than any other age group. Most of these injuries occur at school (Phelan 2001).
Red Light? Move RIGHT
As the area’s leading paramedic ambulance provider, REMSA, along with local fire and law enforcement officials need your help. A few minutes, even a few seconds, can mean the difference between life and death. So when you hear a siren or see emergency lights, remember to do your part to help make sure emergency vehicles can get to those who need help. With bad weather this winter, it is important to obey the rules when seeing emergency flashing lights. REMSA would like to share the following information to keep the roads safe:
Remember, the R-I-G-H-T thing to do:
React
Respond quickly but calmly. Scan all directions for more than one emergency vehicle. Plan your next move.
Initiate
Begin your move to the right. Use your turn signal. Try not to slam on your brakes or pull over suddenly and never run a red light to move to the right.
Gauge
Remember to safely gauge the distance between your car and the cars around you, and pull over as far right as possible. Never stop at a place that doesn’t have enough room for you to pull over safely.
Halt
Stay completely stopped to the right of the road until the emergency vehicle has safely passed. Remember there may be more than one vehicle responding, so scan around before you merge back into traffic.
Tolerate
Emergency personnel only use their lights and sirens when they are needed to offer critical care and assistance. So please, pull over. It only takes a few seconds of your time. Someday you may be the one calling for help — for you, a loved one, friend, or neighbor.
Other Helpful Reminders from REMSA:
Crosswalks and Roadsides
Be alert for pedestrians who may be in the crosswalk, or the edge of the road. They may be looking for the emergency vehicles too.
Highways
Gradually brake to avoid losing control in loose gravel on the shoulder.
Pedestrians
Never cross in front of an emergency vehicle that may be stopped at a busy intersection waiting for another vehicle to pass.
Bicyclists
Pull as far to the right as possible to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
Remember, when you see red and blue lights or hear sirens, MOVE TO THE RIGHT…you are making a difference in the life of someone in your community.
REMSA TEAM WINS BRONZE MEDAL AT JEMS GAMES AT NATIONAL EMS CONFERENCE
Reno, Nev. – A team of paramedics from the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority (REMSA) won the bronze medal finishing in third place at the annual JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services) Games at the national EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Today Conference in Baltimore, Md., on March 6. REMSA Paramedics Matt Dixon, Chris Watson and Adam Heinz made up the REMSA team.
“The REMSA team performed in exemplary fashion and displayed a calmness rarely seen at this level of competition,” said Criss Brainard, deputy chief of San Diego Fire and Rescue and lead judge during the JEMS Games event. “The REMSA team also provided outstanding patient care while remaining calm under pressure. I would consider it an honor having any member of the REMSA team take care of my family.”
The REMSA team competed against 20 other three-member teams from around the world in a series of emergency medical service related events. Scoring was based on skill, speed and medical accuracy. After the preliminary competition, the REMSA team was selected as one of the three finalists that participated in the finals consisting of a large-scale mass casualty incident bus accident emergency medical scenario. By placing in the top three, REMSA’s fees for participating in next year’s competition have been waived. The REMSA team was sponsored by local medical supply companies.
Cape Fear/Duplin County in North Carolina finished in first place and Sussex County EMS in Delaware finished in second place. Other notable teams included New York Fire Department, Miami Dade Fire Rescue and Boca Raton Fire Department who finished in fourth place.
During the competition, the lead paramedic of each team wore a wireless microphone to allow the audience and judges to hear the team’s communications. Approximately 3,000 spectators were in attendance to watch the finals.
Family Safety Preparedness
Safety is always a top priority for families. However, families often do not have a safety plan and are ill prepared for possible emergencies. REMSA would like to remind families about what can be done to be better prepared.
Four Steps to Safety
1. Find Out What Could Happen to You
• Contact your local emergency management office, such as Red Cross, before a disaster occurs–be prepared to take notes.
• Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen. Request information on how to prepare for each.
• Learn about your community’s warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
• Ask about animal care after a disaster. Animals are not allowed inside emergency shelters because of health regulations.
• Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
• Find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children’s school or day care center, and other places where your family spends time.
2. Create a Disaster Plan
• Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
• Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
• Pick two places to meet:
1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
• Ask an out-of-state friend to be your “family contact.” After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact’s phone number.
• Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.
3. Complete This Checklist
Home Hazard Hunt
• In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
• Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
• Fasten shelves securely.
• Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.
• Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.
• Brace overhead light fixtures.
• Secure water heater. Strap to wall studs.
• Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.
• Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away from heat sources.
• Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.
• Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents.
• Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
• Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help.
• Show each family member how and when to turn off the utilities (water, gas, and electricity) at the main switches.
• Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.
• Get training from the fire department for each family member on how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show them where it’s kept.
• Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
• Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.
• Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
• Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
• Find the safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
4. Practice and Maintain Your Plan
• Quiz your kids every six months or so.
• Conduct fire and emergency evacuations.
• Replace stored water and stored food every six months.
• Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
OTHER WAYS TO REMAIN SAFE:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Working with neighbors can save lives and property. Meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help arrives. If you’re a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a home association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Know your neighbors’ special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can’t get home.
If Disaster Strikes
Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.
Check for Injuries
Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.
Listen to Your Battery-Powered Radio for News and Instructions
Check for Damage in Your Home…
• Use flashlights. Do not light matches or turn on electrical switches, if you suspect damage.
• Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
• Shut off any other damaged utilities. (You will need a professional to turn gas back on.)
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, and other flammable liquids immediately.
Remember to…
• Confine or secure your pets.
• Call your family contact–do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
• Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
• Stay away from downed power lines.
To set up a media interview with a REMSA representative, please call Scott Walquist at 775.686.2116.
REMSA is a private, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada. REMSA’s state-of-the-art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is fully accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA provides quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.
Emergency Pharmacology
Zack Marcus, Pharmacy Clinical Specialist for Renown Regional Medical Center will be offering CEU classes on emergency pharmacology during the month of March. Topics include common emergency medications related to cardiac emergencies, pain management and respiratory care. These courses will cover medications commonly scene and used in emergency situations and provide an overview of their uses as well as the pharmacology of the various medications. Logon to remsaedication.com for more information and to register.
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