Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

January 26, 2011, Front Page & Page 2

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

 

 

Volunteers and Grants keep EMS strong

 

 

Greenwood Area Ambulance Service EMT’s took a look at a new child safeguard transport, purchased with grant funds. The ambulance service also recently purchased a pediatric jump kit bag (Ped Bag) with grant funds.  (Contributed Photo)

 

 

By Peter Spicer

 

Grant funding and the hard work of volunteers are the key to keeping County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) helping others and having up-to-date medical technology.

 

Several grants were recently awarded to the Greenwood Ambulance Service – part of the Clark County Emergency Services Association, which includes emergency services countywide.

 

Volunteer services have limited funding available, said Clark County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Jim Backus, who is the Greenwood Area Ambulance Service director of EMT (emergency medical technicians).

 

Money was raised by volunteers, as well as grant funds, which greatly help those services, explained Backus.

 

“Grants and donations greatly enhance the equipment available for our EMT’s.” said Backus.

 

The Greenwood Area Ambulance Services worked for three years to raise funds and receive grant funding to purchase a new $30,000 defibrillator with up-to-date technology, said Backus. 

 

A spaghetti dinner was a big event the ambulance service held to raise funds for the defibrillator, said Backus, who thanked those attending that dinner.

 

The new defibrillator, which may be the only one of its kind used by EMT’s in the County, was placed on a Greenwood ambulance, said Backus. 

 

The defibrillator, which was partially funded by the state, has a monitor that can read the patient’s heart rate and submit information about the patient information about the patient’s heart rhythms to a hospital before the patient arrives, explained Backus.

 

The defibrillator, which is technologically advanced, can also read a patient’s blood pressure, oxygen and blood levels, said Backus.

 

Just over a year ago, the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), which is affiliated with St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, granted the Greenwood Area Ambulance Service approximately $1,100 to purchase a safeguard transport and an Evac-U-Splint.

 

The safeguard transport is similar to a car seat and can hold a child weighing between 22 and 100 pounds, said Backus, who added the safeguard transport is used to transport children to the hospital.

 

The Evac-U-Splint is used to immobilize a child without putting pressure on his or her injury, Backus explained, who added the device also came with an extremities splint to immobilize a child’s injured extremity.

 

The Evac-U-Splint looks similar to a full body mattress, Backus stated.

 

Clark County is one of 17 counties CMN’s program involves.  Contributions to Children’s Miracle Network benefit an array of pediatric programs and services and impacts young lives battling virtually every type of childhood illness and injury.

 

CMN raises money locally and then donates those funds locally, explained Backus.

 

Last month, the Adler-Clark Electric Community Commitment Foundation awarded the Greenwood Area Ambulance Service a $900 grant to purchase new spinal immobilization boards to be stored on ambulances and a second glucometer, which tests a patient’s blood sugar level.

 

The new immobilization boards have a device built into them to hold the patient’s head straight, making EMT’s jobs easier when a spinal injury may have occurred, explained Backus.

 

The spinal immobilization boards the ambulance service preciously used were place on Greenwood’s fire engines, said Backus.

 

The Greenwood Area Ambulance Service’s latest grant came from the General Federation of Women’s Club – Wisconsin (GFWC-WI). The club awarded the ambulance service a $350 grant to purchase a pediatric jump kit bag (Ped Bag).

 

Although the ambulance service had a Ped Bag, the new one the ambulance service was able to purchase “greatly enhanced” the kit, Backus explained.

 

The grant was part of a GFWC-WI project with Emergency Medical Services for Children – Wisconsin (EMSC-WI) to equip Wisconsin’s EMS ambulance departments with critical pediatric equipment, according to a GFWC-WI press release.

 

The Greenwood Area Ambulance Service was awarded the grant from the GFWC-WI and the State of Wisconsin, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program via a cooperative agreement with the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response, according to GFWC-WI.

 

The Ped Bag is filled with supplies sized for infants and children in one organized, easily accessible location. The EMS provider now has ready access to the smaller, pediatric-sized supplies needed to provide emergency medical care for young patients.

 

The Ped Bag is based on the national EMSC Pediatric Equipment and Supplies for Ambulances lists and the ENA Crash Cards, a nationally recognized color-coding system for treatment of children.

 

“Last year in Wisconsin, more than 30,000 children were so ill or injured they required ambulance transport to a hospital,” said Elizabeth Davy, GFWC-WI EMS project chair.  “Our dedicated EMS providers need the right size supplies and equipment to provide the best possible emergency medical care, not only locally but also throughout the state.  Ped Bags are one component to a successful outcome for these children.  Local residents can help, too. Contact [the Greenwood Area Ambulance Service] to help, whether as a donation for pediatric training or other equipment, or to volunteer.”

 

With these grants and the continued efforts of volunteers and contributors, the Greenwood Area Ambulance Service and other EMT’s throughout the County can continue to serve others well.

 

Backus praised those attending events held to raise money for EMS equipment; and those attending the events help make EMS a better service, explained Backus.

 

Without the volunteers and their motivation to obtain new technology, the ambulance services would not be able to help others, said Backus, who added volunteers spend time helping on holidays and take time away from their families to help others.

 

“I am very proud of the dedication shown by the volunteers of the ambulance service,” said Backus.  “They all work very hard at not only responding to calls 24/7 or no matter what the weather is, but also wanting to have the most advanced equipment available. This shows a true concern for the health and well-being of the people we serve.”

 

“I am truly amazed of the teamwork shown by the volunteers of the ambulance service,” said Backus.  “Without their dedication and motivation to want to do the best, we wouldn’t be who we are.”

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE