Deb Hayes instructs Kevin Weiss on how to apply a splint on a patient with a compound fracture of the forearm. Spencer Kelley, left, observes the procedure while waiting for his turn to be the “victim.” Hayes is shown in back, Gavin Wisnieski is the patient with Weiss as the “first responder.” (Johnson Publications photo)
Dylan Davis, left, challenges the new LUCAS chest compression system in keeping up with manual CPR compressions for a specified length of time. EMT Shawna Bigham looks on as exhaustion begins to show on Davis’ face. (Johnson Publications photo)
EMS Open House bustles with activity
The Imperial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) volunteers hosted their annual open house last Thursday in recognition of this week’s National EMS Week.
The EMS building was festive with an abundance of multicolored balloons floating around the meeting room for visitors, young and old, to take home.
Each visitor participating in the activities signed in to receive an EMS bag and a list of all the interactive stations set up to teach, check vitals and challenge visitors.
As each participant left a station, their list was initialed.
Once completed, the list was added to a drawing for a door prize.
EMS volunteers took blood pressures, blood glucose levels, provided mock ride-along EMS calls on an ambulance and demonstrated how a body splint and arm air splint are used.
Another equipment demonstration showed how and why a “stair chair” was used to transport a patient to the ambulance and how patients were stabilized on a cot and loaded into the unit.
Mason Holmes, paramedic, EMS volunteer and Chase County Deputy Sheriff, explained how to start an IV on a mannequin arm and a hand (humorously referred to as ‘Thing’). Holmes showed how to insert an intravenous (IV) needle on one brave volunteer.
Another interesting station demonstrated on a mannequin how to intubate so as to administer oxygen using a bag valve mask (BVM).
Finally, participants got to try their hand at performing manual CPR in a timed interactive competition against the new LUCAS automated chest compression system for CPR.
Interactive competition was performed in a scenario where someone would have to perform manual CPR for nine miles, as if transporting a patient from Champion to Imperial.
“It was hard, not what I thought it would be,” Dylan Davis said.
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