| N E W S | EMS DISPATCH |
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| LETTER | |
| Vol. VII No. 3 Winter 2000 |
Southern Tier Regional EMS Council |
| N E W S | EMS DISPATCH |
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| LETTER | |
| Vol. VII No. 3 Winter 2000 |
Southern Tier Regional EMS Council |
| IN THIS ISSUE: | Minimum Staffing for All Ambulance Services |
| Page 1: Minimum Staffing Annual Awards 2000 Page 2: Stress Teens & Nutrition Injury & Death Page 3: EMS Award Recipients 1999 Page 4: STREMS Council Previous Articles |
The New York State Law Requiring Minimum Staffing on all Ambulances takes effect January 1, 2001. As Chairman of the Systems Committee of Southern Tier Regional Emergency Services Council, I want to share with everyone the deadline for all services to provide at a minimum one Emergency Medical Technician in the patient compartment on every transport. As an advocate for minimum standards, I believe this law has been developed in the best interest of quality patient care for everyone and every possible effort should be made to comply with the staffing standards. Realizing that staffing has become more of an issue over the past few years in the Southern Tier, The Southern Tier Regional Emergency Services Council wants to extend assistance to any ambulance corp. The Systems Committee is offering assistance to any ambulance Service that at this time feels they will experience great difficulty in complying with the staffing standards in January. We stand ready to assist any Ambulance with problem solving and welcome members to attend a committee meeting or contact me at 9364179 or Vice Chairman Mike Smith at 737-2096. Prospective planning will definitely help maintain ambulance service in your community and also avoid possible punitive action by the New York State Department of Health for those Services not in compliance with the law. The Systems Committee meetings are held monthly at the STREMS office on West Water Street in Elmira. For times and dates, please contact the STREMS office at 732-2354 or visit or web site at www.strems.org -Al Lewis, Chairperson, Systems Committee |
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Send us news of your agency: information about what you are doing, or about people - someone who should be recognized for exceptional service or caring, someone who deserves a pat on the back. Send it to EMS Dispatch at STREMS. |
Annual EMS Awards It's that time of year again!! Do you know someone who has done an outstanding job? Someone who should be recognized for their efforts? Now is the time. Award forms and criteria are available in PDF format (see below), or contact the STREMS office for copies. They must be typed or printed legibly and must be for activities that occurred in the year 2000. They must be postmarked by April 2, 2001 and sent to the STREMS office. Don't Wait, Do it Now. |
| EMS DISPATCH Published quarterly by STREMS, Inc. 315 West Water Street, Elmira, NY 14901 Robert W. Nowlan, President; Maryann Sweely, Vice President; James J. Cummings, Treasurer; Ronald H. Kintz, Secretary; Robert C. Rajsky, Council Chairperson; Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes, Council Vice-Chairperson |
Did you know that the STREMS office has a list of Instructional Videos that may be signed out at no cost? Just visit our web site for the list or call us. Please check to see if you have any of our videos. We are missing some. Please return them. |
| Sponsors: Chemung County, Schuyler County, Steuben County, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Corning Hospital, Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital, Schuyler Hospital, St. James Mercy Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital. |
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Contact us STREMS, Inc. 315 West Water Street Elmira NY 14901 (607) 732-2354 In New York State only: Community marketplace 1-800-343-1311 |
E-mail us:
STREMS@stny.rr.com |
Page 2 Teenagers & Nutrition, Stress, Injuries Page 3 Council Awards 1999 Page 4 Council Meeting Notes Previous Articles |
| Winter 2000 | EMS Dispatch | Page 2 |
Stress affects everyone. Whether in work or family life, everyone deals with daily demands on their time and talents. The difference is how people handle stress.
If stress builds up over time, a crisis situation may occur in which a person develops symptoms, such as poor judgment, frustration and anger. The symptoms may cause physical conditions, such as muscle tension, headaches, lower back pain, insomnia and high blood pressure.
If symptoms are left untreated, stress may lead to mental or physical illness. Stress is the body's response to the demands you make on it.
Understanding the demands and their effects can help you learn to recognize your own stress as well as ways to reduce it and lead a healthier life.
WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS:
- Set Priorities. Know your limits. You can't do everything.
- Keep problems in focus; deal with one problem at a time.
- Learn how to communicate. Talk to someone you trust about your problems - a spouse, relative or friend.
- Set manageable goals.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Understand why you feel stressed.
- Think of the positive outcomes of the problem.
Teenagers say they are concerned about their looks, weight and energy levels, but many are not maximizing the one strategy to have it all - following a healthy diet.
Many adolescents, described as those 10 to 20 years old, eat foods with too much fat and salt, and not enough calcium and fiber. They would be healthier if they followed this eating strategy: more fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat dairy products, with an emphasis on developing good eating habits. This will result in what they want: more energy, a better chance to look good and grow to their full adult weight and height, as well as lifelong good health.
Certain dietary habits established during adolescence, such as eating too many foods high in salt and fat, contribute later in life to chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Ideally, adolescents should keep their fat intake to no more than 30% of their daily calories. Reading food labels on the boxes, cans and packages of foods, is one way to keep fat within the daily guidelines.
Teens say they snack on convenience foods, which are often high in fat and calories, because they fit easily into their fast-paced lifestyles. Only 15% of teens eat the recommended 5 serving of fruits and vegetables a day. Yet, if they did, they would be more likely to reduce overall fat intake, and help cut their chances of cancer and heart disease. You can help your teens by keeping fresh fruit, baby carrots, bagels, and yogurt available for quick snacks.
| "Injury is probably the most under recognized major public health problem facing the nation today" |
- Injury is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause for children and young adults.
- Injuries claim more potential years of life lost prematurely before age 65 than any other cause of death.
- About 150,000 people die each year from injury, including more than....
- 43,000 from motor vehicle crashes;
- 27,000 from fires, drowning, falls, and poisonings;
- 31,000 from suicide; and
- For every injury death, there are about 18 hospitalizations, 233 emergency department visits, and 450 physician visits for injuries.
- Each year, more than 30 million emergency department visits are a result of nonfatal injuries.
- More than 72,000 people are disabled by injuries each year.
- It is estimated that the annual cost of is more than $224 billion for direct medical care, rehabilitation, lost wages, and productivity losses. This is a 42% increase in the last decade.
- Injury prevention is a good investment...
- Every $1 spent on bicycle helmets saves society $30,
- Every $1 spent on child safety seats saves society $32,
- Every $1 spent on smoke detectors saves society $65.
| The Southern Tier Regional EMS Council meets the second Thursday each month (except December, April, July & August) at 7:00 PM. The meetings are open to the public. You can check the schedule and meeting locations here. | How to reach the STREMS Office: Mail: 315 West Water Street, Elmira NY 14901 Telephone: 607-732-2354 or 1-800-343-1311 Extensions: Nancy - 10; Linda - 11; Dr. Huffner - 12; Judy - 13 Fax: 607-732-2661 E-mail: STREMS@stny.rr.com |
For the Defibrillation Recertification Schedule check Inservices or contact Vanessa Jewett, 739-2741 or vjcic@aol.com
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Does your agency have a website? Let us know, we'll add a link. Do you know of any good EMS websites? Let us know: STREMS@stny.rr.com |
EMS Dispatch is compiled and edited by the Council's Public Relations Committee. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact the STREMS staff or one of the Committee members: Fred Crist, Allen Davis, Don DuVall, Ron Kintz, Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes, Mary Ann Teeter
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Council Awards 1999 - page 3
STREMS Council Meeting Notes - page 4
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| Winter 2000 | EMS Dispatch | Page 3 |
 L-R: Robert Button, Tina Pawlukovich, Maryann Sweely, Ron Kintz, Steve Bennett |
| BLS Provider of the Year Robert I. Button As a CLI, a practicing EMT-D and a CRI Instructor with the American Red Cross, Mr. Button has shown Dedication and Ingenuity. He has taken course materials and brought them into the 21st century by computerizing and person-alizing the course material so his students are enhanced with participation and learning. |
ALS Provider of the year Steven G. Bennett For his dedication and en-thusiasm, for his encour-agement to his fellow workers to increase their skills. He is actively involved in the restructuring of Schuyler Ambulance's EMS Program. He developed and tailored a Paid Program to encompass the existing volunteers as a valuable asset to the program. For helping to improve member morale and meeting attendance at Schuyler Ambulance. |
EMS Educator of Excellence Tina Pawlukovich As CLI for the last 9 years as well as a CPR Instructor and a NYS practicing Paramedic, Tina has balanced her work and family successfully. Her excellence as an Instructor is evident not only in the Pass rate of her students bust also in the number of students who continually want to take her courses. She goes that extra mile to encourage and assist her students. Her willingness to continually educate and impart her knowledge. |
| EMS Leadership Award Maryann Sweely As an RN in the Emergency Department of Corning Hospital she recognized the need for communications between the hospital and the volunteer and paid corps that serviced the hospital. For over 30 years she has been dedicated to the education and retention of EMS personnel. She also saw the need for the STREMSC Sponsors Committee to insure uniformity in teaching EMS courses. |
The Walt Ersly Award Ron KintzThis award is presented to a person whose many years of dedication, unselfish giving of themselves, willingness to always learn new things, and their desi re to share their knowledge and experience with others. No wonder that it was awarded to Ron Kintz. |
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AED applications approved: Golden Glow Fire Department, Woodhull Ambulance, Savona Fire Department, Wayland Fire Department, Caton Fire Department, and Van Etten Fire Department. AED renewal for Elmira Fire Department was approved. Arkport Fire Department was approved as a First Response Unit.
Dr. Seaman has taught five sessions of the Domestic Terrorism Preparedness Courses for hospital personnel. Additional courses will be scheduled for 2001.
Instructor approvals were recommended for CLIs Mary Jo Bruinooge, Dave Rynders, and Eric Watkins; CIC JR Miller.
Computer testing has run into significant obstacles which need to be resolved before the program can continue.
The Regional Quality Improvement Committee recommends awarding a plaque to agencies participating in the regional QI program, where additional years of participation could be added.
From the State EMS Council: The Southern Tier anaphylaxis protocol was accepted by the Department of Health for their use. 1998 PCR data is due at the end of October. PAD has not been encouraged in the school system; two deaths occurred in Suffolk County, where PAD might have saved lives. This issue will be revisited by the Dept. of Education.
Council members were urged to write letters in support of the Blood Borne Pathogen Bill. There is also legislation giving counties the option to have cellphone providers direct 911 calls to county 911 centers. Governor Pataki has vetoed the bill. Efforts are being made to have him reconsider, or to have the Senate/Assembly override the veto.
Annual EMS Awards were presented to: Tina Pawlukovich, EMS Instructor of the Year; Robert Button, BLS Provider of the Year; Steve Bennett, ALS Provider of the Year; Maryann Sweely, EMS Leadership Award; and Ron Kintz, The Wait Ersly Award.
The STREMAC is looking at administration of nebulized albuterol by EMT-B. Approving this skill would require training and regular skills maintenance; it would affect a small population of eligible patients.
EMS Conference: The regional EMS conference will be held Biannually, in odd-numbered years.
Council Minutes: January 2001 Meeting
Next Meeting: See the Council meeting schedule for dates, times and locations. Meetings are open to the public.
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