A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
A STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
The Emergency Medical Services System is unique in its ability to blend a large number of distinct and diverse dishes into a meal that even the most inexperienced and uninformed diner can enjoy. The local organization responsible for this feat is the Thomas Jefferson Emergency Medical Services Council which encompasses the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, as well as the City of Charlottesville. TJEMS coordinates the many different aspects of the EMS system including rescue, fire, and police departments, 911 dispatch, Medcom, emergency departments, and trauma centers. The person in charge of this fantastic feast is Dr. George Lindbeck, the operational medical director. Not only is he in charge of overseeing preparation but is the one whose neck is on the line in the event of a bad review.
Bon Appetit!
MCINTIRE AND CHEESE
Ingredients:
CROZET CRABCAKES
Ingredients:
SOUTHERN STYLE FRIED CHICKEN
Ingredients:
All side dishes to the EMS system must meet several standards before they can be presented with the meal. Any type of side dish must have command of the English language, be certified in CPR, have been around for 16 years, never have been convicted of a felony, and physically be able to perform the expected duties.
TATER TOTS
Ingredients:
YOUR BASIC BISCUITS
Ingredients:
SHOCK-N-BAKE CHICKEN
Ingredients:
HEARTS OF PALM SALAD
Ingredients:
TWICE-BAKED POTATOES
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PEAS AND CARE-OTS
Ingredients:
BUTTERED BURRUSS SPROUTS
Ingredients:
IN-A-PICKLE PIG'S FEET
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HAMBURGERS
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CHEESEBURGERS
Ingredients:
QUARTER POUNDERS
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THE WHOPPER
Ingredients:
IN-A-PINCH POTATOES AUGRATIN
Technical Rescue Team
Ingredients: 2 years EMT experience
current EMT-B certification
certification in 3 Heavy and Tactical Rescue modules
Shelf Life: CARS' Technical Rescue Team has been good for the past 5 years
A technical rescue is any rescue involving extremely high risk and small probability of patient survival. There are five main categories of technical rescues: trench collapse, confined space, high angle rescue, building collapse, and swift water rescue. Since it's beginning five years ago, the TRT has averaged 24 calls per year. When members of the team are notified of a technical rescue, they are expected to report directly to the scene as quickly as possible.
HOG "JAWS" AND BLACK EYED PEAS
Ingredients:
GAZPACHO SOUP
Ingredients:
SMOKED TURKEY WITH HORSERADISH
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FLAMBÉ
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DEPUTY DAWG DONUTS
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MINCE MEAT PIE
Ingredients:
Contributors
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad Website
For more information email me at:
TASTY VITALS
The Official EMS cookbookMAIN DISHES
Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad
Preparation:
Shelf Life:
A member of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad is located on McIntire Road alongside the 250 bypass. CARS is a completely volunteer organization that serves the city of Charlottesville, the University of Virginia, a large portion of Albemarle County, and assists other counties' rescue squads when needed. For the last five years, it has been headed by Captain L. Dayton Haugh and President Robert Jaskiewicz. An all-time favorite, CARS is one of the most requested volunteer rescue squads in the country having been served more than 10,000 times in 1998.
Western Albemarle Rescue Squad
Shelf Life:
The Western Albemarle Rescue Squad is responsible for providing Advanced Life Support care to the western end of Albemarle County as well as assisting other local EMS agencies. WARS is responds to around 1,000 calls a year.
Scottsville Volunteer Rescue Squad
The Scottsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, the third rescue squad in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, services the southern end of Albemarle county.
SIDE DISHES
First Responder
Shelf Life:
Most people who are first responders are those who do not run on a ambulance crew but who do find themselves dealing with emergencies on a somewhat regular basis. These include fire departments, police departments, and industrial personnel. However, anyone who arrives at the scene first and provides emergency care is considered a first responder.
EMT-Basic
If It Suits Your Taste: oxygen
oral glucose
activated charcoal
nitroglycerine (if the head chef gives permission)
inhalers (if head chef gives permission)
Epi-pen (if head chef gives permission)
Shelf Life: EMT-B certification is good for 4 years
The EMT-B is the first level of emergency medical technician training. They are educated in the working of the different systems of the human body and are trained in the techniques of assessment and treatment of medical and trauma patients. An EMT-B has the ability to make use of an Automatic External Defibrillator when necessary, as well as the medications listed above.
EMT-Shock Trauma
If It Suits Your Taste:
Shelf Life:
In addition to the skills used on the EMT-B level, Shock Trauma EMT's are trained to start intravenous lines to administer medication through, have advanced airway management skills including intubation, and specific education in traumatic soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries.
EMT-Cardiac
If It Suits Your Taste:
Shelf Life:
The specialty of and EMT-C is heart attack victims, which encompass a large number of specific ailments and diseases. The EMT-C has the ability to interpret data from an EKG, perform nasal and pediatric intubation, defibrillate, provide dysrhythmia treatment and carotid sinus massage, and operate a pacemaker externally.
EMT-Paramedic
Shelf Life:
EMT-Paramedics are considered the top of the line when it comes to advanced life support care in the pre-hospital setting. Certification can be obtained as part of an Associate's or Bachelor's degree or following certification as an EMT-ST and EMT-C. EMT-P's spend time in the hospital setting in the areas of surgery, burns, pediatrics, obstetrics, and psychiatric treatment, and are qualified to start central IV lines and perform pericardiocentesis.
Critical Care EMT-Paramedic
If It Suits Your Taste:
Shelf Life:
CCEMT-P are involved in the transport of critical care patients from one facility to another. They are responsible for continuing the care and maintaining the interventions already begun by pre-hospital and hospital personnel. CCEMT-P's among other things, are trained in lab data interpretation, invasive line monitoring, blood administration, intracranial pressure monitoring, and invasive electrical therapy.
EMT-Instructor
In order to be invited to attend the Instructor Institute, you must successfully complete and practical skills examination and score an 85 or higher on the written pre-test. EMT-I's have the enormous responsibility of teaching and training future first responders and EMT-B's.
EMT-Tactical
Shelf Life:
The EMT-T program prepares EMT's for providing medical care in the tactical law enforcement setting. Topics covered in the course include care under fire, hostage survival, wound ballistics, toxic hazards, and medical intelligence. EMT-T's are also given "hands on" experience with assessment under sensory deprivation, field expedient decontamination, aeromedical evacuation, and safe search techniques.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Rescue Unit
Rescue units are sent out on basic life support calls. These are generally non-life-threatening emergencies. Rescue level calls include minor injuries, small burns, eye problems, fall from small heights, controlled bleeding, conscious stroke victims, and uncomplicated child births.
Trauma Unit
Trauma units are the first level of advanced life support services and are capable of handling life-threatening emergencies. These units are staffed by personnel with the training to start IV's, administer a wider range of medications, interpret EKG readings, and insert endotracheal tubes. Trauma level calls include allergic reactions, uncontrolled bleeding, chemical burns, choking, and decreases level of consciousness.
Medic Unit
Medic units are the highest level of advanced life support and the best equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies. These units are staffed by the best trained personnel in the EMS system. Medic level calls include large burns, cardiac arrest, dead on arrival, electrocution, unconscious overdose patient, gunshot wounds, and stabbings.
Squad Unit
Squad units are used in emergencies in which the patient(s) is in a position where he cannot immediately be accessed for treatment. Squad units are not used to actually transport patients, but instead, are equipped with numerous kind of tools and machinery used in extrication and rescues in unique situations. Squad units respond to calls such as drowning and diving accidents, above or below ground rescues, and rescues from heights
FOR THE GOURMET
Vehicle Rescue Team
Shelf Life:
The VRT specializes in patient extrication and treatment in motor vehicle accidents, which happen to be the leading cause of death for young people in our community. Many different scenarios such as head on collisions, overturned vehicles, and flip-overs, result in a need for the VRT to help a patient who is pinned or trapped in their vehicle. CARS' VRT averages around 50 vehicle extrications a year and has an outstanding performance record that exceeds the national standard.
Water Rescue Team
Shelf Life:
The Water Rescue Team exists to provide specialized rescue services in the areas of search, rescue, and recovery involving water. Members of the team are even more specifically trained in either dive rescue, swift water rescue, boat operations, or ground support. The WRT is managed by a SCUBA sergeant, a Dive Operations officer, a Boat Operations officer, and a Competition Team captain. All of this combines to produce a highly trained team to deal with water rescues.
Pegasus
Shelf Life:
Pegasus, based at the UVA Health Sciences Center Emergency Department, provides medical air transportation. It provides quick transport for critically ill or injured patients that the rescue squad may not be able to deliver to the hospital fast enough. Pegasus is staffed by a highly trained crew with current certifications in cardiac, trauma, pediatric, and other specialized care. The area of service is generally within about a 100 mile radius of the City of Charlottesville. When activated by either a rescue squad, fire department, or medical facility, Pegasus is dispatched by MEDCOM.
DESSERTS
The Fire Department
The fire department is the primary source of first responders as they significantly outnumber the rescue squads in this area and are very often the first at the scene. In fact, 66% of what the fire department does involves EMS. An engine company's job is to show up and stabilize an emergency scene and provide as much EMT care as possible until the rescue squad is able to respond. More recently, the fire department has equipped all of its trucks with Automatic External Defibrillators so that their EMT's can render cardiac care as well. The fire departments and the rescue squads work together to provide the fastest and highest level of care to patients using EMS.
The Police Department
The role of the police department in the EMS system is to secure an unstable scene so that medical care can be rendered and protect the rescue personnel. Officers are not trained as EMT's or in CPR or first aid, their job is strictly protection. However, they are quite often deployed to 911 medical emergency calls, and are automatically dispatched to any violence or unknown rescue call.
Emergency Departments
The emergency room is the final destination of the EMT. This is where the switch from pre-hospital to hospital care occurs. Usually, the patient has the option of choosing where he wants to be taken, unless his condition dictates a certain protocol. The UVA emergency department is a major trauma center. This is where any burn, or critically injured patients as well as those in need of immediate operations or surgery are taken. The UVA emergency room receives over 55,000 visits per year. EMT's do not just "show up" at an emergency department unannounced. They are in constant communication with whichever place they are transporting to while en route so that the emergency room personnel is prepared to quickly provide the necessary care for what is now their patient.
The University of Virginia Health Sciences Center Website
The Martha Jefferson Hospital Website
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center Website