“Wake EMS honored as heart attack survival rates rise” – The News and Observer

 

Wake County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff, along with Wake County Commission Chairman Paul Coble, announced this morning a major campaign aimed at helping citizens survive cardiac arrests. The Wake EMS 100 Day Heart Safe Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Campaign, which runs from Monday, May 14, through Friday, August 24, 2012, is designed to increase the availability of public access AEDs in the community.

“Today’s announcement is a crucial step in improving cardiac arrest survival rates,” said Wake County Chairman Paul Coble. “We encourage the business community to take advantage of this life-saving campaign.”

Wake County has partnered with local AED vendors to provide purchase incentives to businesses and groups participating in the campaign. Once purchasers register their device, the information is provided to the Raleigh-Wake and Cary 9-1-1 Centers so that dispatchers can quickly locate the unit and assist with the operation of the AED during emergencies.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and strikes more than 350,000 people a year, according to the American Heart Association. AEDs, along with Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), provide an immediate and essential link that may be the difference between life and death.

One of the speakers at today’s kickoff was Mecklenburg County State Representative Becky Carney, who survived cardiac arrest in 2009. Carney credits the quick response of staff who used an AED to help stabilize her until Wake County paramedics arrived.

For more information about the Wake EMS 100 Day Heart Safe AED Campaign, visit www.wakegov.com/ems.

100 Day Heart Safe AED Campaign

On Monday, May 14th, Wake County EMS will partner again with Wake County’s Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention to recognize National EMS Week and National Women’s Health Week.

Stop in for:

-Free blood pressure and other health screenings

-Information on safe and healthy living

-Refresh your CPR skills and learn about AEDs

-Meet Pete the Paramedic Panda

-And more

The Open House will take place at Wake County’s EMS Station 1 located in the John H. Baker Jr Public Safety Center at the corner of W. Davie Street and McDowell Street.  The event is scheduled to run from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.

On Wednesday, May 16th, Wake County EMS will hold the 6th annual Code Save Ceremony.  Personnel from across the EMS System will gather to celebrate the 68 cardiac arrest saves for calendar year 2011.

The ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm at the Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh.

Mr. Bobby Barlow will give the keynote address.  Mr. Barlow collapsed in cardiac arrest last November while giving a eulogy for a life-long friend.  He survived and returned to his post-retirement job of setting up clients with home health care needs.  Other entertainment includes; Acappology, NC State University’s outstanding capella group, Cairde School of Irish Dace, and a special recognition to honor and thank the 9-1-1 telecommunicators for their often under-appreciated role in EMS.

It is with great pleasure that we announce Jefferson Williams, MD MPH has accepted the position of Deputy Medical Director with the Wake County EMS System.  Dr. Williams completed his undergraduate and medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill, his emergency medicine residency at Harvard, and his EMS Fellowship and Masters of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.  He served with the South Orange Rescue Squad prior to medical school and has successfully published numerous book chapters, peer-reviewed research articles, and delivered scientific and educational presentations at the national level.  We are very fortunate to have a candidate of this caliber as part of our EMS System.

Dr. Brent Myers, Director, Wake County EMS

Wake County EMS will receive the 10th Annual Rosecrans Award on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the EMS Today Conference in Baltimore, MD.  The award is given to honor those in EMS who have gone beyond just responding to injuries-those who are preventing them in the first place.

Wake County EMS Advanced Paramedic Program was selected for the incorporation of safety and prevention as core elements of an innovative , on-going program in the community.

The Wake County EMS System is launching a unique training program this month for paramedics and EMTs that tests and emphasizes a variety of skills and abilities while in a setting that’s far more realistic than a simple class room.  Wake EMS Professional Development staff have outfitted an  ambulance with a “simulation manikin system” which EMS crews can use to drill on a myriad of complex emergency medical treatment scenarios.

“Modern simulation technology allows paramedics to assess and interact with sophisticated training manikins.  Changes in patient condition a variety of information, like vital signs, lung sounds and heart rhythms, are facilitated by a hidden training specialist using computers connected to the manikin,” says Joseph Zalkin, Deputy Director, Professional Development and Preparedness.

“It’s important for us to develop methods like this.  Number one, the training and testing occurs in the paramedics’ actual work environment, the back of an ambulance.  Second, it allows us to work all of our paramedics through less common, but very complex medical scenarios and protocols.  This system allows us to create as realistic an environment as we can to develop skills.”

The new system is a creative and efficient use of existing equipment and resources.  The simulation manikin and computer system was integrated into an older ambulance that was scheduled for replacement.  The “Simbulance” will travel to several points in Wake County to provide training and skills enhancement to on-duty EMS personnel.

After positive field tests last week, the Simbulance will hit the road during the last week of February to meet up with EMS crews across the Wake County EMS System.

Wake County EMS extends our deepest condolences to Durham Highway Fire Department for the loss of their member, Angus.  Angus was a dedicated and loyal member of the fire department for 14 years.

To learn more about Angus, click here.

On January 25, 2012, current and former employees of Wake County EMS celebrated and honored Tim Edwards on his retirement.  The celebration breakfast took place at the Farmers Market Restaurant with over 50 people in attendance.

Tim started working for Wake County as a part-time employee in 1983.  He was hired full-time on January 14, 1984.  Tim was eventually promoted to Logistics Officer, serving in this role for 17 years.

Tim’s EMS career also included serving as Chief for the Rolesville and Wake Forest Rescue Squads and winning the Wake County “Caring, Serving, and Respecting” Award for outstanding customer service.

Tim officially retired on January 31, 2012.

Tim Edwards at his retirement celebration