To the Editor: In the past two weeks, across Middle America, more than 64 tornados have touched down causing damage, personal injury, or loss of life. Storm season is not over! Here in Cleveland County, since the first of this year, we have had floods, a devastating ice storm, and straight line wind damage.
As our county is such a rural area, we have one ambulance and crew to serve the county at any one time. As a rural county, the distances and some times inaccessible roads can create extreme dispatch to arrival times. Not to mention delays if an ambulance is already dispatched somewhere else.
One of the ways to eliminate unnecessary suffering and possible loss of life is the establishment of a first responder system. Well trained knowledgeable first responders only minutes from an emergency, can make the difference between life or death in many situations, especially when EMT-paramedics are delayed due to distances, prior call or road conditions.
However, the only way this can be achieved is by volunteers helping family and neighbors. A First Responder is not just the first person on the scene. A first responder must have training in multiple areas. Some of these areas include (but not an exclusive list) good Samaritan laws, Scene assessment, hazardous materials recognition, patient assessment, triage/mass casualty, first aid and basic CPR, HIPPA, scene reporting, forensic recognition, basic extrication, proper radio communications, FEMA's Incident Command System, and Search, Rescue and Recovery techniques.
Across the county we have multiple Volunteer Fire departments, with great dedicated volunteer firefighters, many of which, already have much of this training. I propose a system that works in conjunction with the volunteer Fire departments, Emergency Medical services, Sheriff's department, and the Office of Emergency Management.
As an Intensive Care/ER/ Trauma nurse of over 30 years, and 14 plus years in EMS,...
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