2019 Emergency Medical Services Week

May 19-25, 2019, is the 45th annual National EMS Week. In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate emergency medical service practitioners and the important work they do in our nation's communities.

EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor those providing lifesaving emergency services. EMS Week is the perfect time to recognize the local EMS and all that its practitioners do for our community.

The theme for this year's EMS Week is "Beyond the Call." For many in EMS, the sense of responsibility to care for the community doesn't end when the shift does. EMS means more than dedication to duty and lifesaving patient care. EMS is also community care that takes time, energy and heart- far beyond the scope of your everyday calling. This is especially true in rural communities like New Rockford and Sheyenne, where it's volunteers who respond, and they leave their jobs, families and other commitments at a moment's notice to take the calls. They also jump in to help when they see someone in need, even when not on call, and they spend time advocating for funding, lobbying for improvements and educating community members on CPR, AED use and first aid.

Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford (CASNR), the local organization that ensures emergency services are available to our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are 36 active volunteers locally who take call hours day and night to make sure there is someone available to respond in an emergency.

The management responsibilities were handled via contract with Bismarck-based Ambulance Resources, LLC for several months this winter. Recently, the board of directors decided to hire two local volunteers, Sara Myhre and Tiffany Harr, to split the management and financial duties.

Former CASNR President Sara Myhre is now the part-time Ambulance Manager. She takes the lead on volunteer recruitment, community outreach, call scheduling, training plans, fundraising, grant writing and federal and state reporting.

Harr is the Business Manager, so her role is to handle all the financial aspects of the organization. She does all the patient billing, accounts payable and financial statement preparation for the board to keep them informed and aide in their decision making.

Myhre said that she thinks the best thing for the organization is to take a team approach to the position and retain local people who understand the community. CASNR staffs three volunteers on each crew who are ready to respond whenever needed, even though state law only requires two per crew. Myhre said having three people on a call makes the work a bit less stressful for the volunteers, especially in situations where an EMT needs to perform CPR in the ambulance while on the road to a medical facility.

CASNR is a basic life support (BLS) operation with advanced life support (ALS) capabilities. The organization has three fully equipped ambulance vehicles and a disaster trailer.

In November 2018, voters approved Eddy County Measure #1, which allows CASNR to request and receive up to 10 mills annually from the county to help fund its operations. Before the vote CASNR received 3.5 mills from Eddy County, which was equivalent to approximately $50,000 in 2018. In order to receive the additional funds, the organization must 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 biggest reason for this change was the level of support available through the state's Division of Emergency Medical Services. In the past, CASNR received approximately $100,000 per year from the state. In 2018, that funding decreased to just $30,000, a devastating blow to the local operation that must stock a various of expensive supplies and medications that have a short shelf life. The organization is grateful to the community voters for recognizing the value of the services they provide and can continue to offer with the local tax dollars.

CASNR is currently seeking individuals who wish to pursue volunteer service. The best way to start is by becoming a CPR driver. 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 are also welcome and encouraged to contact Myhre. An EMT course will be offered right here in New Rockford this fall, and the call schedule is flexible so anyone can take as few or as many shifts as they are able.

Become a lifesaver today! Contact Myhre at (701) 947-2355 or email [email protected].

Residents encouraged to recognize EMS all week long

This year, the five days of EMS Week each have a focus that together represent the diverse nature of EMS.

Community Ambulance Service of New Rockford has events and activities scheduled all week to help recognize local volunteers and educate the public on basic emergency care. Plan to attend, and don't forget to thank our local heroes for their service to our community!

Monday is EMS Recognition Day. Our local volunteers will hold their regular meeting this evening, and all members will be recognized for their service.

On Safety Tuesday, CASNR will offer free blood pressure and glucose screenings at the New Rockford Senior Center from 10 a.m. to noon and at the Sheyenne Senior Center from 2 to 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, Miller's Fresh Foods in New Rockford will host blood pressure screenings from 2 to 4 p.m.

Thursday is EMS Education Day, and CASNR will hold a Friends and Family CPR class at 6 p.m. at the New Rockford Ambulance building on First Avenue North. This dynamic course is intended for members of the general public and teaches lay-rescuer skills in CPR, AED use and relief of choking in adults, children and infants. No course card will be awarded upon completion of family and friends CPR. There is no cost to participate, and the class is open to the public. Anyone required by his or her employer and anyone who desires credentials as a lay responder should take a Heartsaver Course. Those courses are offered the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. Contact Sara Myhre at 947-2355 to register.

On Friday, Stop the Bleed Day, volunteers will spend the day at the New Rockford-Sheyenne School, offering hands only CPR and "STOP THE BLEED" training to students and staff on their last day of classes before summer vacation.

The History of EMSPresident Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week in 1974 to celebrate the important work EMS practitioners do in our communities. EMS was a fledgling profession at that time and its practitioners were just starting to be recognized as a critical component of emergency medicine and its relation to public safety.

EMS is now well established as a vital component of medical care and an essential public function to local communities. EMS practitioners care for their patients' medical needs and show caring and compassion to their patients in their most difficult moments.

What is EMS?

EMS stands for Emergency Medical Services. EMS practitioners provide pre-hospital emergency medical care. People call EMS when they are undergoing an emergency medical situation and the EMS may provide medical care at the scene of an emergency and on the way to a hospital. Every day EMS practitioners across the nation save lives by responding to many kinds of medical emergencies.

However, EMS is more than an ambulance service. It includes the dispatch center that receives the call and dispatches help, it includes those who respond first (such as police officers and firefighters), an ambulance team of EMTs and paramedics, physicians and nurses who provide advice either by radio or phone, air medical services, hospital facilities, and the agencies who provide oversight.

Who provides EMS?

When a person becomes ill or injured and dials 911 from the city of New Rockford, the call is answered by an EMS dispatcher in Devils Lake. The dispatcher is trained to obtain key information from the caller about the location and type of emergency. The dispatcher also may give the caller patient care instructions while sending emergency responders to the scene of the emergency.

Eddy County has first responders throughout the county so that care can be given as quickly as possible. A first responder can begin giving emergency care and relay information to the emergency personnel who are on the way.

The training level needed for EMS practitioners is regulated at the state level. Each level of EMS practitioner is trained to perform different skills to assist patients.

EMS practitioners work under protocols approved by a physician medical director, who oversees the care of patients and is knowledgeable about patient care and how EMS systems deliver care. The Medical Director for the Community Ambulance Service is Dr. Rick Geier from St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey and he works closely with local EMS leaders to assure quality patient care.

EMS is increasingly valued in achieving the nation's overall healthcare goals of improved patient health and lowered costs.