EMS Week 2008
Roanoke Fire-EMS Celebrates EMS Week, May 19-24, 2008
Please join Roanoke Fire-EMS in celebrating EMS Week, May 19-24. This years theme is “EMS; Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service”. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of the men and women that provide the day to day life-saving services of medicine on the frontlines. A Proclamation will be presented to Roanoke Fire-EMS regarding EMS Week at a Council Meeting on Monday, May 19 at 2pm.
During this week several special observances will be celebrated including:
May 21-Annual Emergency Medical Services for Children Day: This annual observance draws attention to the specialized need for pediatric emergency care to ensure that every child in the nation receives the highest quality emergency care possible.
May 17-24 - National EMS Memorial Bike Ride www.muddyangels.com
The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride raises awareness of the National EMS Memorial and the National EMS Memorial Service, which honors those members of the EMS community who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
May 24th, 7pm National EMS Memorial Service- Roanoke, VA
The National EMS Memorial Service is a nondenominational ceremony held each year to honor those men and women of America’s EMS systems who have lost their lives in the line of duty. During the ceremony, family members, friends, co-workers, EMS and political leaders, and colleagues from EMS agencies from around the nation come together to remember their loved ones and colleagues. The day incorporates the National Moment of Silence at 20:00 hours EDT. For more information, call (804) 749-8191 or visit http://nemsms.org.
Roanoke Fire-EMS and the American College of Emergency Physicians want to let you know how you can help in a medical emergency.
Call an ambulance if the patient has the following problems:
Choking or trouble breathing
A seizure/attack
Won’t respond or move when you talk to him/her
Sudden or intense pain
Heavy bleeding
Sever or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
Coughing or vomiting up blood
Chest pain or pressure
Neck or back injury
Confusion or mental change
Fainting
Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
Patient is suicidal or homicidal.
If it’s life threatening, CALL 9-1-1!
What to tell the Emergency Dispatcher once you’ve called 9-1-1
Describe the emergency, speak slowly & calmly
Give your name and phone number
Give exact location/address and nearby landmarks. This is especially important when dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone. Your location may not be made readily available – know your location!
Give name, age and number of patient(s) if known
Follow the dispatcher’s instructions and answer his/her questions. The dispatcher can walk you through emergency procedures.
Don’t hang up until you are told to do so
Don’t leave the scene until help arrives
What to do While Waiting for the Ambulance to Arrive
For the patient:
Stay calm, keep patient calm
Keep patient awake and warm
Do not give the patient anything to eat or drink
Do not move a victim who has been in a car accident, had a serious fall or has been found unconscious, unless he/she is in immediate danger
Perform first aid if you are willing and able
What to do for emergency responders
Light your location with a porch light, flare or bright cloth. Make sure your house number is visible from the street.
If possible, send someone to the street to flag down the ambulance
Clear a route to the patient; move cars, furniture, plants, etc. if needed
Close off all pets from rescuers/ put pets in another part of the house
Gather or write down all the patient’s medications and allergy information to give to the first responders
Gather the patient’s medical history form
Note the time:
When did you last talk to the patient?
How long has he/she had this medical problem?
If unconscious, how long has he/she been unconscious?
Check if the patient has any advance directives (such as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders)
First Aid is what you can do for a victim before medical help arrives.
Make sure your home has a first aid kit that includes: bandages, butterfly closures, rolled gauze, nonstick sterile pads, first aid tape, first aid cream, tweezers, thermometer, an analgesic or equivalent, gloves, CPR face shield and an ice pack.
Keep your first aid kit and medications out of the reach of children.
Before assisting a victim, protect yourself first. Put on gloves and use a CPR face shield if needed.
Control bleeding with pressure. Place a clean cloth on the wound and apply pressure with the palm of your hand until the bleeding stops. Also elevate the wound above the victim’s heart, if possible, to slow down the bleeding at the wound site.
Treat physical shock quickly by ensuring that the victim has an open airway and is kept warm by a blanket.
By learning basic first aid skills, you can help the victim until EMS workers arrive.
Roanoke Fire-EMS encourages all Roanoke residents to practice fire safety steps every day. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility and fire prevention precautions DO make a difference! The Fire Prevention Division of the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department offers fireplace safety and/ or home fire safety inspections at no cost. Citizens can call 853-2795 to set up an appointment. Citizens in need can also receive a smoke detector at no cost from Roanoke Fire-EMS Administration. Call 853-5785 for more information.
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