Loyal Ambulance Service expresses gratitude for anonymous donation, community’s support during fire
By Valorie Brecht When it comes to responding to an emergency situation, the more realistic one's training can be, the better. The Loyal Ambulance Service recently received a sizable donation from an anonymous donor, which enabled them to purchase a couple of pieces of equipment that will enrich their training and assist them physically while out on the job - a Resusci Anne training mannequin and a Raizer II lift chair. The donor requested the money be used to "enhance the Loyal Ambulance Service's capability to assess patients and provide care." Initially, the first responders were unsure of which piece of equipment to purchase to best utilize their funds. They contacted other area departments for ideas, but found they already had most of the items the other local departments would have recommended. After being stumped for a while, training officer Elizabeth Szymanski had an idea.
"One night I was sitting there looking at our old training supplies and mannequin, and I thought, 'Why not get a new mannequin?'" she said. "Practicing on a newer mannequin will make us better at our jobs, and by improving ourselves, it can enhance the care we are able to provide." The ambulance service opted to purchase the interactive, full-body Resusci Anne Simulator, which performs a variety of functions to simulate various medical issues. The battery-powered mannequin can talk, moan and groan, and even has inflatable lungs that allow it to "breathe" on its own. Not only can EMTs practice CPR as if the patient had gone into cardiac arrest, but they can also respond to a blocked airway, shortness of breath, chest pain and other scenarios. EMTs can work through pre-set situations, or the trainer can speak through the mannequin, making up the scenario as they go along. The mannequin gives feedback on student performance. It records the amount of pressure the trainee is applying and can indicate if they are performing compressions at the correct rate and depth, as well as if they are giving breaths at the correct rate.
The ambulance unit had a chance to train with Resusci Anne a few weeks ago at their monthly training and found it valuable. "They're all very excited to get to practice some of these things. Instead of just talking about things or watching a video, it's actually hands-on," said Szymanski. "It will help us be even more prepared for things we may encounter out on calls." The large donation the ambulance service received also allowed them to purchase a Raizer II lift chair, which can lift a patient off the ground to a seated position. There is a seat that goes under the patient's thighs and two panels that go behind their back. The pieces connect together and the chair gradually raises as one unit. "It provides us with a little bit more mechanical help. It can assist us with lifting a person, making it easier to pivot them to a chair or bed. It may not work in every situation, but there are a lot of situations where it could help us out and reduces the risk of strain on our part," said Szymanski.
EMTs were grateful to have this additional tool in their toolbox when caring for patients. They extended their heartfelt gratitude to the anonymous donor for their generous donation. Community thank you Szymanski also expressed appreciation on behalf of the entire ambulance crew for how the community supported them as they responded to the fire last month. "We would like to thank the community for their thanks and support following the Main Street fire. We are so blessed to live in and serve this community. It was an awful thing to witness, but so beautiful to see the community come together and be there for each other. We look forward to serving you for a long time to come."
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