Emergency Medical Classes
Teach Local Volunteers
By David Hull
May 17, 2005
Tuesday
Ketchikan, Alaska - The month of May has been a busy time for
the members of the North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, South
Tongass Volunteer Fire Department and the Ketchikan Fire Department.
Lt. Jerry Kiffer is finishing
up on an Emergency Trauma Technician (ETT) class that will test
out this Saturday May 21st at Station 6, 7332 NTH . The Emergency
Trauma Technician (ETT) class is a great class and gives the
student training in life saving skills and proper patient handling.
Steve Phillips is holding
Fred Monrean's head steady while Paul Hook applies a cervical
collar to Fred's neck. The collar is used to help stabilize an
injured person's head and neck until x-rays can be taken to determine
if an injury to the spine has taken place.
Photo by David Hull
The ETT student can attend an Emergency Trauma Technician (ETT)
to Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) bridge class later and
obtain their EMT Basic certification if they choose. The Emergency
Trauma Technician (ETT) class teaches the student what to do
until the ambulance arrives and many departments in the interior
utilize this class as the level of emergency care they deliver
in the field.
In North Tongass the level
care is the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) II/III level most
of the time and always at the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Basic level. The Ketchikan Fire Department has Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) III/Paramedic level response and the South Tongass
Volunteer Fire Department is just starting their EMS response
system and will offer the same level of service that North Tongass
Volunteer Fire Department does.
Theresa Glenz is looking
at the ETT skill sheets while Roberta Hull holds the head of
Pebbles Hull. These students are practicing their physical assessment
skills for the test on Saturday, May 21st.
Photo by David Hull
The Emergency Trauma Technician
(ETT) students are:
Liz Hook
Paul Hook
Steve Phillips
Fred Monrean
Romey Edenshaw
Scott Hildebrandt
Wendy Mackie
Jill Giles
Kim Giles
Anna Kiffer
Roberta Hull
Rushcelle "Pebbles" Hull
Chris Christensen
Theresa Glenz
In this picture Kim
Giles (green shirt) is being placed on a long back board to protect
her suspected injured spine in this ETT practice scenario. Anna
Kiffer (red shirt) is seen explaining to Lt. Jerry Kiffer (back
to camera) what steps she will take to make sure Kim is placed
successfully on the board. Also pictured are Paul Hook (right),
Jill Giles (holding Kim's head) and Fred Monrean.
Photo by David Hull
At South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, an Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) II class will be finishing up on Saturday, May
28th. This class teaches a basic Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT) the fundamentals of advanced airway management and starting
intravenous (IV) lines and administering emergency medication.
This is an extensive, fast
paced class that among other things requires the students to
offer up their arms to their fellow students to practice the
craft of starting an IV. Once this class is over the students
must then complete an orientation with their respective departments
before being allowed to function as an Emergency Medical Technician
II on an ambulance.
(From right) Andy Tighe,
Brian Short and Tracy Strickland discuss Andy's successful IV
attempt on Tracy's arm during the EMT II class at the STVFD Station
4.
Photo by David Hull
The Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT) students are:
Andy Tighe - NTVFD
Cathy Tighe - NTVFD
Jack Rodgers - NTVFD
Gretchen Skillings - NTVFD
Stacey Francis - STVFD
Brian Short - KFD
Presco Ancheta - KFD
Tracy Strickland - KFD
All of these students are giving
of their time to be better trained to render aid to someone injured
or ill. They are not being paid to attend the classes. These
students best exemplify the Alaskan tradition of Neighbor Helping
Neighbor and deserve our thanks.
Bill Sharps from Craig
watches as Jack Rodgers pulls the steel needle from his arm.
The plastic tube is left in the arm to allow the administering
of fluids and medication. Sharps was in town to attend the class
for continuing education credits.
Photo by David Hull
Cathy Tighe (with back
to camera) is attempting an IV stick on the arm of Gretchen Skillings.
In the background, STVFD Assistant Chief Dennis Spurgeon (checkered
shirt) offers up his arm to Presco Ancheta seen preparing his
own IV attempt.
Photo by David Hull
Editor's Note: David Hull is
Chief of the North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department.
E-mail your news &
photos to editor@sitnews.us
Publish A Letter on SitNews Read Letters/Opinions
Submit
A Letter to the Editor
Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|