Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad - Page 1

February 2014

ImportantDates

· February 11 - Business Meeting,Rescue 8, Dinner 1800 and Meeting1900

· March 23 - Annual Oyster roast,Convention Center 1300-1700

UniformHours

· Tuesday, February 11 - 1100 - 1300

· Thursday, Februrary 13 - 1200 - 1300

· Tuesday, February 18 - 1100 - 1300

· Thursday, February 20 - 1200 - 1400

· Sunday, February 23 - 1700 - 1800

· Thursday, February 27 - 1200 - 1300

Chief's CornerVBVRS Members,

This may be a short month, but it's long in activities. All members, seasonedand probationary, are welcome to participate in the many community activityopportunities. Sign up! See Jon Sansone, PR Officer, to learn more about thepoints you can earn

Our Life Member breakfast was another significant event this month as morethan 30 life members enjoyed getting together at Station 8. Take theopportunity to talk to one of these special VBVRS members; they have greatstories to tell.

Our banquet was a memorable one, and I was thrilled to be able to celebrateour membership, our achievements, our award-winners, and our "first ladies"who were simply inspiring. Thanks again to our Banquet Committee for puttingthe event together for us, and to all of you who are the reason we are so strong.

Ellen McBride, Chief

62nd Annual Banquet

The VBVRS banquet was, as always, a huge hit!Clockwise from bottom left - Jim & CatBreckenridge, and Vicki & Matt SIms agree thatit was a great time; Corbin Cavolt, Travis Smith,Chief Ellen McBride, Katie Smith and BarbaraMoore catch up; Kristina Somers, Ray Ford Jr,Mary Katherine Pratt, Alex Jeinson andJonathan Quinn stop for a quick photo op; andour Exec Comittee is sworn in - Brad Sauer,Tony Pirrone, Rich Maguire, Walt Yancey, EmilyMills and Ellen McBride. Not pictured: JohnDoubt, RIchard Doub, Roy White.

Caleb Fields, EMT-I and Lt ofRecruitment- Why did you join EMS?

I originally joined EMS when I was 16 years old. I tookthe opportunity to take the EMT class to get out ofregular school. After obtaining my EMT, I was hired fulltime and then started my career in emergency medicine.

- What is the most enjoyable and challenging parts?

The most enjoyable part of EMS for me is the familyatmosphere that VBVRS has - I have found that there isalways someone that you can turn to who can help youin life and your EMS career. The most challening part isputting all parts of the call together to help the patientand doing so in all environments and weather.

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad - Page 2

CAUTION - Hazmat on Board! - by Pete Seidler

Member Spotlight

Yes, even 1422 has it on board and is readyfor use!

It has DOT HAZMAT ID# UN 1072, is in DOThazard class division 2.2, has a multi-pageMaterials Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) and weare exposed to it every day on all of ourambulances!

Yes, you have probably guessed, it'sOXYGEN. We all have a vague memory of beingtold very early on in our EMT classes about thedanger of oxygen tanks. You probably stillremember to treat them gently because of thecompressed gas (remember that final scene inJaws? If you don't, then check it out!). That'sall good, but there are some other cautionsand safety practices that are worthconsidering.

First, let's remember that oxygen is an"oxidizer" (of course!) - meaning that it's notitself flammable since it cannot burn, but itdoes accelerate combustion that has alreadystarted - and that acceleration can be quitedramatic, even explosive! An environmentsaturated in oxygen will easily support vigorouscombusion, and given how much we useoxygen, our units can easily be such anenvironment. It doesn't have to be an openoxygen cylinder valve, either. There aredocumented cases of where a slow leak froman oxygen cylinder stored in an EMS "jumpbag" supported combustion when a spark(remember, the bottle is metal) was introducedinto the bottom of the bag where the oxygenhad collected.

And when oxygen flows freely through afill line, heat can be generated, which thencan be a combustion source (remember, theoxygen in the line will greatly support anycombustion!). While not combustible,oxygen is a gas stored under pressure in aclosed container. Some guy named Boylefigured out that as temperature rises (as in afire), that gas will expand. At this point thecylinder (or more likely the valve) will failunder pressure and then - BOOM!

So, what are some of the safetyconsiderations for our oxygen? Always keepall portable oxygen bottles secured to protectthe valve - the two or three spare bottles wehave should be secured in racks. The jumpbag bottle should be kept securely inside thebag except when in use. When theambulance is moving, don't hang it from thestretcher, instead secure it using the Velcrostraps. Ensure the valves on stowed bottlesare completely off and closed.

While it is good practice to also close thevalve on the jump bag bottle, that is not ournormal procedure; at least ensure theregulator is completely off when not in use.Handle all bottles with care - do not standthem on end and be careful they aren'trolling around where the valve assemblycould be damaged. With all bottles, ensurevalves are tightly closed, a proper O-ring isused and the regulator is correctly attached.And one last thing - be careful you don't dropa bottle on your foot, ouch!

Be safe out there!

A Big Thanks to All Members!PRINTING GLADLYDONATED BYVIRGINIA BEACH PRINTINGYOUR LOCAL PRINTERFOR OVER 50 YEARS.

3000 Baltic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451757.428.4282 www.vabeachprinting.com

- Memorable people in EMS?

The most memorable person in my EMScareer was my Crew Chief Allison from thesquad I first started with; she was the oneperson who always had faith when I doubtedmy skills and taught me to be the provider Iam today. Allison encouraged me to gothrough the medic class after I obtained myenhanced certification at 18.

- What is it like being an officer with VBVRS?

While I have not been the Lieutenant ofRecruitment long here at Rescue 14,working in training is something I havealways been active in. The most excitingpart of training is that while you are teachingsomeone else, they may also have a newapproach to something, which keeps us alllearning. For me, recruitment allows theability to meet lots of new people and shareexperiences that can bring more providersinto EMS.

- Outside of rescue, what hobbies do youenjoy?

Outside of rescue, I spend a fair amount oftime traveling and enjoying the oceanfrontweather. If I am not running rescue or atwork, look for me at the beach. That beingsaid, as most of you know I spend most ofmy free time on the ambulance or zone car.

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad - Page 3

In the Medicine Cabinet - by Cliff Cutchins, MD

Officer Notes! KED and Pediatric/Adult backboards are NOT to be swapped out with the fire department or any other agency at calls; per EMS admin

those units can follow us to the hospital to retrieve their item. Please call a street supervisor if there is any concern about this policy.! Please ensure you put the EMR and any equipment back in the truck at the end of the shift, particularly after a night shift - unless you want

to be potentially woken up by the day shift!! Please do not forget to replace pillows at the hospital; it is a state requirement to have two pillows on every unit. Please also refrain from

using these pillows for sleeping.! If anyone is interested in obtaining an old VBVRS fire helment (as we have recently replaced all of them) for memorabilia use, please

contact Lt of Equipment Travis Smith for more information.! Per Captain Mills, all members are requested to wear their VBEMS badges inside Station 8 and Station 14. Our membership is large and

wearing badges will help us get to know each other as well as ensure everyone is authorized to be inside our buildings.! If you know of a member who is going above and beyond, or is deserving of special recognition, please TEXT our Retention Officer Erin

McCarty at (757) 348-8771.

WE WANT YOU FOR THESQUAD TRUCK TEAM!- Now accepting applications, only twoshifts per month! Contact Richard Doubat rdoub@timtruck.com or Mike Rydbergat mikerydberg448@yahoo.com for moreinformation.

AspirinHow it works - Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid,is an antiinflammatory medication and helpsin pain relief. Technically, it inhibits enzymescalled cyclooxygenases in the body whichcause inflammation. It has other effects,however, including strongly inhibiting plateletaggregation or clumping so clots don't formas easily.

Indications - Today, other medications likeibuprofen are far more effective for painrelief. Its major use comes from

anticoagulation (decreases clot formation)activity. Since clots are the major cause ofboth heart attacks and strokes, aspirincontinues to have a major role in prevention.

Aspirin is remarkable in that it has beenshown to DECREASE MORTALITY duringactive heart attacks when used at a fulldose (325 mg) immediately. Other drugslike morphine and nitroglycerin might providepain relief, but have not shown survivalbenefits.

Contraindications - Stopping clot formationmeans that people bleed longer - so it makessense that it should not be used in people atrisk of major bleeding. This includes recentGI bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes. Itshould not be used in children, as it can liverfailure (Reye's Syndrome).

Side Effects - I know you'll be surprised whenyou read that it causes... bleeding. Andbruising. It can actually cause fairly seriousGI bleeding as a side effect, which shouldprompt immediate medical evaluation. Ask

your GI bleeding (and stroke) patients if theytake aspirin as that can impact your decision-making.

What it means for EMS - Look at that boldedpart earlier again. It DECREASES MORTALITYin acute heart attacks! That is why some ofus have pushed for years for EMT-Bs to havethis at their disposal, and that is coming inthe new protcols for EMT-Bs! More on theexact details to come in the update classes inMarch, but if you can confirm a heart attackon a 12-lead electrocardiogram then 324mg(four 81mg "baby" tablets) aspirin should bethe FIRST drug you give. Not sure about the12-lead? Contact medical control and ask!

Trivia - Asprin is an oldie but a goodie. It wasfirst discovered from the bark of a tree in1763, and first made by Felix Hoffman ofBayer Pharmaceuticals for sale in 1847

Do you have a special request for a drug toappear in the monthly "In the MedicineCabinent" column? E-mailnewsletter@vbvrs.com with your request!

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad740 Virginia Beach BoulevardVirginia Beach, Virginia 23451 Tel: 757-437-4830 www.vbvrs.comEllen McBride, Chief and President 2014 - Chief@vbvrs.comCliff Cutchins MD, Newsletter Editor - Newsletter@vbvrs.com

Snow Bound in Virginia Beach!

Member ShoutoutsDo you have a shoutout to share? E-mail newsletter@vbvrs.com to give someone the credit they deserve!

! Big thank you to everyone who helped prepare for, cooked during, cleaned up after, ran duties and and picked up crews for rides to Station8 and Station 14 during the snow storms. VBVRS, you are amazing!

! To Trevor Lee who does so much to help the city when it's short, and who even drove a member home to Norfolk who was in a bind!

! To Mike Mui for submitting the most availabilities, 32, in the ENTIRE VBEMS system (the average is 5.7). He is a team player and is doing awonderful job of honing his skills. BIG KUDOS!

! To Tony Pirrone, Erin McCarty, Ellen McBride, Trevor Lee, Rich Maguire and Bobby Hill for helping with the Hands Only CPR event on 1/19.

! To Caleb Fields for picking up for a sick member on his night off.

! Thanks to Rich Maguire, Bill Graves, Adam Juma, Danielle Sullivan, Charlie Gurley, Barbara Moore, Kristina Scholze, Matt Fanghella andJonathan Sansone for their assistance at the Hampton Roads International Auto Show in January showing off Cadillac 14.

! To one of our newest admin members, Matt Fanghella, for his invaluable help with the newsletter and organizing our community resources!

VBVRS has continued to answer the call,even in the craziest blizzard conditions - whoknew that Virginia Beach could be a ski resort?But that doesn't mean that we don't have alittle fun along the way! Clockwise from top left- Erin McCarty and crew watch the snow pileup; Tony Pirrone works on his C-Spine skills;Greg Tidd, Matt Chiaradia and Caleb Fieldswork the shovels; Rescue 8 stands tall duringthe weather.

Photos courtesy of Erin McCarty and EllenMcBride