NCAR&EMS 2002-May-10 Newsletter
May 10, 2002
COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
As spring is upon us it seems that the whole world is busy. I guess its just part of the process of change from winter to a better and more favorable season. The same goes for everywhere I go or anyone I talk to in the Rescue service, a change is in the air. They are busy training, checking on equipment and preparing for the new rescue standards. Not so much for the July 1, 2004 deadline set forth by the NC Association of Rescue. But to incorporate the Emergency Rescue Technician Certification that is offered by OSFM in a effort to better serve the communities which they are in and to perform to the level of service they will be held to if they are ever questioned. Training of the Emergency Rescue Technicians seems to be causing some concern, but this just didn't happen. The concept of Basic Rescue Technician and Advanced Rescue Technician started back in the early 90's. These two were combined in 1998 to form one, it being the Emergency Rescue Technician. The community colleges did then and still do provide the training for the ERT. Some areas have trouble getting instructors but there are very good instructors available. These instructors may not be the local in-house training officer, but with a little coordination with the community college and the instructor, one can be obtained. One can also get their certification by attending some of the many weekend schools that are held across the state year round. There have been 2 ERT Assessment centers ran this spring at Rescue College. This is a perfect way for those individuals that only need 1 or 2 classes to challenge the ERT test and get their certification. It was thorough and demanding and not for the candidate who thought a certification would be handed to them without a very good amount of knowledge in rescue. In 1998 a series of meetings were held with representatives from various Rescue Services with different levels of expertise along with representatives of OSFM. The purpose of these meetings was to adapt a list of equipment to compliment the ERT Standard. After a tremendous amount of work by some 30 highly qualified individuals the equipment lists were agreed upon and adopted by the Rescue Association. The Light Rescue Certification is not much, if any more equipment, than you say you are carrying now to be a member in the Association. The Medium and Heavy areas yes have more equipment, but they were designed that way for the different or more advanced rescue situations a squad might encounter. Again, there is nothing except the desire to provide a higher level of service within the individual squad that mandates a squad go beyond the Light Rescue Standard. The Specialty areas are just what they say "Specialty". Their training goes beyond ERT and equipment goes beyond the minimum required to meet the standard of Light, Medium or Heavy. Another misconception is the fact that all the equipment has to be on 1 vehicle. This is not true. It must be on A vehicle or trailer and response ready, not packed up along the back wall of the building Several departments have more than one building and their equipment is on several trucks but are still the same organization. Another item concerning the vehicle is the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight). As squad officials, you have a duty to see that these vehicles are not overloaded. Yes, the truck may hold all the equipment but is it overweight? In the event you ever have an accident and the DMV chooses to weigh the vehicle involved, then is not the time to find out you are liable because your weight exceeds what the manufacturer states is the maximum. Any dealer who sells a rescue vehicle or any other vehicle should tell you how much payload can be carried on it. If they cannot, then it is your responsibility to find out the weight of the chassis combined with the body to determine just how much payload you have. For some the standard of rescue may have been raised, for others it is just a process of doing the paperwork. The bottom line is that these changes are for the benefit of the many people who, by some unfortunate happening, have to call upon you for help. They may be strangers or your neighbor, your friend or a family member. Whoever they are, they deserve quality care.
If you have any questions feel free to call the NC Association of Rescue and EMS office at (919) 736-0506 and speak to Gordon Joyner the Executive Secretary of the Association.
VICE-COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
Hello! It's that time again. Time to share some information with you. I would like to thank the Polk County Rescue Squad for hosting the Directors meeting April 13 and 14. They very graciously accepted us as one of theirs and fed us well. Some of our benefits were increased during this meeting. You can go on-line to get this updated information. On Sunday, April 14, we attended "open house" at Alexander Rescue Squad headquarters and participated in the dedication of their facility. We participated in the installation of new officers and enjoyed touring the facility. The squad is proud of their new facility and their upscale equipment. You could see dedication and hard work the squad did to accomplish this feat. This is a way of COMMUNICATION!
Rescue College will have happened by the time you read this note. The first weekend was held April 26, 27 and 28. The second one was held May 3, 4 and 5, 2002. There was an assessment center offered both weekends. This was held for rescue persons that wanted to challenge the ERT test for certification.
Our next Directors meeting will be June 29 and 30, 2002. This meeting will be held with the Yadkin County Rescue Squad in Yadkinville, N.C. Our attendance was low at the last meeting. I challenge all directors, alternate directors and committee members to attend and be able to carry much needed information back to the members in your areas. This is also a way of communicating with the folks you depend on. Keep them informed so they can be prepared for what comes next. You don't want the barn door closed and they not know how to open it!!
We need BLS judges. BLS Certification class usually begins at 10:00 a.m. Don't miss this chance to become certified.
Let's work together, pull together and keep the NCAR&EMS first in our country.
Convention 2002
September 19-20-21, 2002...............New Bern, North Carolina
BROTHERHOOD OBITUARY
| NUM | NAME | SQUAD | DOD | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #754 | William M. Reddick | McDowell County Rescue | 03/11/2002 | 69 |
| #755 | Malachi Stanley | Nakina Rescue Squad | 02/16/2002 | 50 |
| #756 | James G. Maynor | Pembroke Rescue Squad | 04/03/2002 | 76 |
| #757 | Horace Mullinix | Individual Member-Vass Rescue Squad | 01/09/2002 | 78 |
ALEXANDER RESCUE SQUAD & EMS CELEBRATES 43rd ANNIVERSARY AND OPEN HOUSE
Alexander Rescue Squad & EMS, Inc held it's 43rd Anniversary and Open House on Sunday April 14, 2002. Dignitaries and members of the community gathered to help squad members celebrate the open house of their recently completed renovations and additions to their base. Additions included a new 35 x 30 training/meeting room, a 20 x 80 bay addition, renovated office space, rest rooms and making the entire building handicapped accessible. Special guests included the officers of the NC Association of Rescue & EMS, Alexander County Commissioners, Mayor of the Town of Taylorsville and former Squad Captain James Looper. It was determined that 51% of the original charter members of Alexander Rescue are still living in the county. The highlight of the afternoon came as rescue squad members presented placques of appreciation to the Board of County Commissioners and named the new training room in honor of County Commissioner and Fireman David S. Odom. David was very instrumental in assisting the squad in acquiring the funds for the building project and he has been very supportive of the squad for many years in the past. The new training room was named the Odom Training Center. Odom's family was in attendance to observe the ceremony. In a quote as David spoke " I have always tried to support the rescue squad before I became a county commissioner and at some point when I am no longer a commissioner the rescue squad will still be here for me to support. They give a lot to the community and they do it without a tax base. That is the incredible part and I pledged if I ever got the opportunity I would help them. I truly want to say Thanks for a job well done." Further exercises of the ceremony included an installation of the 2002 Officers of the squad by NC Association of Rescue Squads Executive Secretary Gordon Joyner. After the ceremony a reception was held and squad members were on hand to show and explain to the guests how different pieces of equipment work.
ACEP ANNOUNCES EMS WEEK THEME
EMS WEEK will be May 19-25, 2002. The theme is "EMS-Help is a Heartbeat Away". The American College of Emergency Physicians have chosen a special patriotic theme this year to recognize the heroic actions of the many EMS, fire and other public safety personnel during and following the events of September 11, 2001. Many of the promotional products for EMS Week will be a special logo recognizing the service of all responders. For additional information, please visit our website and click on our "Bulletin Board".