National Emergency Services Week 2018

The Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR) has accomplished some big things in the past year, including an upgrade to their level of service, a major life-saving designation and placement of devices to aid first responders.

When Tim Schmeets joined CASNR as the manager, he brought with him his paramedic certification.This allows CASNR to operate as an ALS, or Advanced Life Support unit. An ALS ambulance service provides a higher level of care than Basic Life Support, as a paramedic can transport patients needing special services, including medical/surgical patients with a continuous IV medicine, any patient on a cardiac monitor, obstetrical patients, patients from urgent care centers and patients with potential airway compromise.

In the past CASNR has worked with the Carrington Ambulance Service to provide the ALS services via intercept. The EMTs would stop in Carrington and pickup an ALS certified individual before continuing on to the hospital. Now, every day when Schmeets is at work for CASNR, he is able to provide that higher level of care to those in need. He has also trained local RNs in Advanced Cardiac Life Support so they can also provide ALS care in our community. When a paramedic or trained RN is not here in New Rockford, Schmeets now provides the intercept in Carrington (where he resides).

The second accomplishment is New Rockford's Cardiac Ready Community Designation. The volunteers at CASNR worked for two years to meet the criteria for the program. The purpose of the Cardiac Ready Community project is to prepare residents with the skills to respond to cardiac events. This involves placement of AEDs and direct interaction with the public providing blood pressure screenings and CPR classes so community members have the tools and knowledge to respond when someone experiences a cardiac event. New Rockford is one of only six communities in North Dakota who have received the designation. The others are Powers Lake, Rugby, Valley City, Hebron and Mayville.

In the past year CASNR has placed 20 additional AEDs in Eddy County, and several of them are stored in the vehicles of our sheriff's deputies and EMTs who live in rural areas. With an AED in the vehicle, these individuals are capable of providing service to community members wherever they are.

Another key focus for CASNR is on education. Schmeets is not only a paramedic, but he is also a certified instructor. CASNR now offers CPR classes once a month. He also offers Emergency Vehicle Operators Courses (EVOC), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) training, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) classes and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) for RNs. The goal is to become a regional EMS education site, offering basic to advanced courses to not only local volunteers but to staff and volunteers of ambulance services in neighboring communities as well.

Maintaing the level of compassionate care CASNR has worked so hard to establish is no small feat. It takes two very important things: funds and volunteers.

This November, Eddy County voters will be asked to vote on a mill levy increase for the ambulance service. Currently CASNR receives 3.5 mills from Eddy County, which is equivalent to approximately $50,000 in 2018. On the ballot will be a request that the county pay up to 10 mills for CASNR. Should the mill increase pass, the organization will present an annual budget to the county for approval as all other departments do, and the county will decide how much to levy, up to 10 mills.

The funds are needed, according to Schmeets, because funding from the state has been reduced and is expected to be cut further during the 2019 session. CASNR used to qualify for more than $100,000 annually, and this year they received just $30,000. The funds are used to maintain the ambulance vehicles, purchase and maintain equipment and purchase supplies required to be stocked in all vehicles, including Epi-pens, Narcan and defibrillators. The dollars will also be used to reimburse volunteers for call time as needed to fill the schedule.

Speaking of volunteers, CASNR is currently seeking individuals who would be interested in volunteering as CPR drivers. According to Schmeets, there are only two courses required to start service: a CPR class and the Emergency Vehicle Operators Course. As a CPR driver a volunteer will be able to get comfortable with the vehicle, the equipment and the call. The drivers will be mentored by EMTs, paramedic and RN members so they feel comfortable responding to a call.

Individuals who want to pursue EMR or EMT certification, including RNs interested in ACLS, are also welcome and encouraged to contact Schmeets. All education is available right here in New Rockford, and the call schedule is flexible so anyone can take as few or as many shifts as they are able.

Volunteer today! Contact Schmeets at (701) 947-2355 or email [email protected]