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Pittston township Ambulance association EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PITTSTON TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA 1977 – Professional Providers Serving the Community – 2010 While all of our 911 Emergencies place EMS providers in a position of treating a person in their time of need and as such are everyday heroes, there are occasions where 911 Emergency situations are truly unique, demanding and tests an EMS providers skills and talents. Some 911 Emergencies even place an EMS provider in great personal danger as they go about our mission of "Making a Difference". On this web page, the “Heroes and Gratitude” link will give you access to true short story segments about specific 911 Emergencies and will highlight our EMS providers that experienced unique challenges above and beyond a typical situation. In addition, we will publish our letters received, notes of thanks and appreciation from those we had the honor to be of assistance and to serve. Look for continued updated information on these “Heroes and Gratitude”. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JULY 2010 A close to midnight call for EMS found our responding staff in a unique situation with getting access to an elderly patient. A grandchild was talking via phone with her grandparent and the conversation "just didn't seem quite right". The grandchild was concerned about the grandparent alertness and called 911 for an EMS response to check on the grandparent. The dispatch info contained some medical information that was helpful in determining what maybe was happening. A drawback, was that the person calling for help was not at the residence and didnt know the exact address, but gave directions and a descrption of the home, which to find in the cover of darkness, was a challenge. Arriving first in personal vehicles, were EMT's Tony R and Tony A, followed shortly thereafter by the rest of the EMS team and vehicle. Both Tony's were standing at the locked door, able to view the elderly person seated on a chair and they started knocking at the door, to get the persons attention. The person did acknowledge their presence, got up but then sat back down. After this sequence of events was repeated a few times, it was obvious to the EMS providers that something indeed was wrong. The EMS staff then began to quickly check doors and windows and found each possible access locked. A decision was made to break into the residence as soon as possible, but to keep any damage to a minimun. Police assistance was requested to document the EMS break in and assist in securing the home after. The EMS staff found a small window to break and was able to open a door. Once inside, the elderly resident seemed somewhat confused as to why there were EMS providers in the home, nor was she aware that her home was broken into by the EMS. Shortly after access ,the 911 center returned a call to the grandchild and she called the home and spoke with the EMS providers and her grandparent. An on site EMS assessment determined that the eldery person was in need of additional evaluation. She was taken via ambulance to a local hospital for further medical care. The EMS providers, with assistance of a neighbor also cleaned up the broken glass, covered the window and secured the home before departing. A sincere "thank you" to those who responded to this call and making a difference - EMT's Tony R; Tony A; ; Don H Jr; Russ S and the Geisinger Medic 303 team. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 2010 As the local Perkins Restaurant was closing for the evening and as restaurants patrons leaving, a wait staff person of the restaurant collapsed, fell and hit her head in the process. The bystanders quickly summonded 911, noting a person down and barely breathing and alerted other restaurant employees that one of their co-workers was now laying on the floor. Pittston Township Emergency Services were dispatched and EMS providers responded from various locations, some from home nearby in private vehicles and an EMS crew from the station along with Advanced Life Support Services. First arriving in under 5 minutes were EMT's in private vehicles, radioing the 911 Center that there was an employee in cardiac arrest and CPR was now in progress, led by EMT Tony R, assisted by EMT's Tony A and Katie C. Within a minute after, a full Emergency Medical Response Team was on site, initiaing BLS and ALS protocols, working to reverse the sudden cardiac arrest. Within 10 minutes, the EMS team was able to regain cardiac activity and pulses for the patient, but the patient continued in respiratory arrest. Breathing was assisted as the patient was loaded and moved into the awaiting emergency vehicle. During transport, the patient began to make attempts to breath on own. And upon arrival to the ER, the patient continued with these efforts. It was subsequently learned that the patient condition was stabilized and further procedures were done in the following days of the incident. The patient did survive and was released from the hospital 2 weeks later. A sincere "thank you" to those who responded to this call and making a difference - EMT's Tony R; Tony A; Alyssa B; Katie C; Don H Sr; Russ S and the Geisinger Medic 303 team. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 2010 With the recent multiple snow storms and one pending, the Pittston Township EMS scheduled additional staffing due potential bad road conditions. In the early morning hours/height of the storm, the EMS Staff was dispatched out into the Glendale section for a patient with a heart condition. With unplowed roads, the responding EMS vehicles were able locate the residence and eventually able to plow their way into the driveway with the EMS vehicles, a home located a number of yards off the main road. The patient was in extreme critical condition and as evaluation and treatment progressed, the patient did have a sudden cardiac arrest. The EMS team acted quickly in attempting to reverse the situation in the home and the patient was then taken out to the ambulance in deep snow, in cardiac arrest. A cautious but rapid as possible transport was initiated to a nearby hospital. Enroute, the patient regained pulses, spontaneous breathing and was responding to verbal commands by the EMS Team. This staus remained upon arrival at the ER. The ER staff was highly impressed with the EMS team efforts and abilities of reversing the critical patient situation, but also the safe arrival time given the poor road conditions. THANK YOU to EMT's Russ S; Katie S and the Geisinger Medic 303 Team ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE: January 2010 Dear EMS provider, I would like to take this opportunity as a fellow EMS volunteer (from out of your area) to thank your crew who took my mother from her home in Dupont to Moses Taylor Hospital one evening in January 2010. My sister was at the house with my mother and called me to inform of the poor state in which she found my mom. I told her to call the ambulance. She stated that your personnel were very compassionate and professional with mom. I must say I am thankful that your EMS crew was so attentive. It turned out that she was experiencing a serious medical problem. The hospital said that if we not gotten her to the hospital when we did her condition would have worsened and she would have died in a couple of days. She has since had surgery and is now recuperating. Had it not been for my sister’s impression and your professional treatment of my mother, I would not be writing this letter. I know we do not volunteer for Thanks or Rewards but we all deserved to be recognized for the outstanding service we provide. Again my family and I are extremely thankful for you and your personnel for literally saving my mother’s life. It is professionals like you that make the world a better place. Published with authorization of the writer - Thank you letter received Name withheld for privacy purposes Thank you to EMT's - Alyssa B; Katie S; Don H Sr; Tony R; Zack S; Tony A and 1st Lt.Tina P ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE: November 2009 Emailed thank you for EMS - resident name withheld for privacy purposes: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE: February 2009 Thank you note received along with membership donation - resident name withheld for privacy purposes: "Please accept this personal donation to your Association. As Supervisor, I appreciate all the good things you do for our town". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DATE: January 2009 Thank you card received for services provided - resident name held for privacy purposes: "Thank you so very much for all of your kindness in our time of need. I want to "Thank You" also for coming as soon as you did for me. May God Bless you all and keep you safe". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE: December 2008 Pittston Township Emergency Services received a 911 disptach for a person with trouble breathing, location being in Glendale, one of the more distant locations in the coverage area. Within a minute of being enroute, 911 was relaying that the person was now possibly in cardiac arrest with CPR being started by a family member. Both basic and advance life support services arrived to find the patient as a cardiac arrest and began both BLS and ALS protocols. Whereas the home was small and spaces exceptionally tight, an additional request was made for manpower assistance. Nearby and returning from another emergency was EMS 565 who responded. An 8 person emergency staff attended to the patient for 15 minutes when pulses were regained along with a viable blood pressure. The patient was then moved from the residence and transported to Geisinger ER with continued pulses, blood pressure and some attempts to breathe on own. A sincere "thank you" to those who worked this call, working against time/distance factors to arrive and in very tight areas both for patient care and taking the patient from the home. EMT's on duty; Paul D; Sue D; Don H Sr.; Geisinger Medic 303 staff and Pittston City EMS 565 who assisted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE : Spring 2008 Pittston Township Emergency Services received a 911 dispatch for a single car motor vehicle accident in one of our industrial parks. Initial reports was that a male was unconscious in the vehicle. Pittston Township Emergency Services, Police, Fire/Rescue, EMS and Geisinger Medic 303 were dispatched emergent to this location. First arriving were police units, reporting same, with the male driver, possible cardiac arrest. Arriving within moments after the police, were EMS/EMT's Capt Ed W, Asst Capt Heather P, 2nd Lt. Ron P. These persons live close to the incident location and went directly to the site as other Fire/Rescue and EMS vehicles were still enroute. Upon arrival, those first on site, viewed a single vehicle, motor still running, entire drivers side firmly against a guide rail, doors locked and windows closed. Forced entry was made by breaking a window, accessing the patient from the passenger side. The car was then shut off, and an elderly male operator was removed in cardiac arrest and CPR was begun on the roadway by those first on site. Traffic was heavy due to the hour and the roadway was immediately closed by police so that lifesaving efforts could continue in safety. As Fire/Rescue and EMS vehicles arrived, care continued on the roadway. EMT on board was Russ S III, his shift partner 2nd Lt Ron P, already on site, and later joined by Don H Sr. Advanced life support procedures via protocol were immediately initiated and the patient was loaded into our vehicle for further assessment and treatment. Once advance life support care was fully in place, transport commenced to Geisinger ER. There were no pulses or indications of cardiac activity for about 15 to 20 minutes at this point, even though CPR was begun with the first 3 to 5 minutes from dispatch. Enroute to the hospital, it appeared that our efforts were not going to be successful, but then we were getting some indications of some progress and cardio-shocks were given. Further assessments were somewhat positive and standard lifesaving efforts and drug administration continued. The situation was critical as successes gained were once again lost, making necessary more drug administration and cardio shock inversions. There were a few times where it appeared that some spontaneous breathing was being attempted at 2 minutes out from the ER. As the incident progressed in time, some more progress in our efforts were noted, and this prompt more cardio- shock inversions. By the time we arrived and backing in at Geisinger ER, the total number of shocks administered were 9 @ 360J (max), spontaneous pulses were present and it was obvious that the patient was making attempts to breathe on own. We departed the ER not certain of the outcome, as the patient was being stabilized with lifesaving measures. A total of 11 cardio shocks were administered, 2 additional while in the ER. A sincere "thank you" to those who worked this call , EMT's Capt Ed W, Asst Capt. Heather P, 2nd Lt Ron P, Russ S III and Don H Sr., along with the Medic 303 staff. Regardless of this outcome ....remember ... our vehicle and equipment are just objects and materials ...skilled hands bring to life the equipment we have as we work at preserving life for those who are in our care ... Dedication such as displayed on this call and other calls is priceless and an asset/tribute to our profession. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE: Winter 2007- 08 On a Sunday morning, 911 received an Emergency call which was unknown as to the problem, lots of confusion on the phone, but a person possibly in cardiac arrest. Dispatched were Pittston Township Emergency Services, Police, EMS and Geisinger Medic 303. The location was in the Glendale section, a most extreme distance to access. In addition, it was snowing actively at the time and for a few hours previous, thus the road/travel conditions were fair at best. As the call progressed, the 911 center was able to determine that the call was in fact a person in cardiac arrest. First arriving was the police who confirmed the situation, notified EMS to expedite, and the police officer began CPR. Incoming EMS picked up a police escort, another police officer responding to assist. Arriving EMS found the patient being actively treated with CPR and continued with both basic and advanced life support services. Once everything was in place, the patient was moved to the EMS truck for transport. Enroute to the hospital ER, the patient regained pulses and these were maintained at arrival to the ER. Lifesaving measures were continued by the ER staff. A sincere "thank you" to Pittston Township Police Office Jon A, Duryea Police Officer Pat W, and Asst Capt EMT Heather P, 2nd Lt. EMT Ron P, along with Geisinger Medic 303 for making this possible with their talent and skills. Calls such as these are challenging at best to have a positive outcome for the patient, let alone adding the marginal road conditions which made for getting to the emergency as much as a challenge. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DATE: Feb. 2007 It was Valentines Day in 2007 and the East Coast was being warned on a massive snow storm approaching. Little did anyone realize the magnitude of the storm and its potential to strand persons on highways, miles from basic necessities at the height of the rush hour. At midnight of Valentines day, the Pittston Township Ambulance placed additional staff on duty in anticipation of road problems and potential for additional emergencies, but the staff was required to be placed into search and rescue mode by evening. As the day progressed, the storm worsened and motorists were stranded by the hundreds if not thousands on local roads and Interstate 81, which was a four lane parking lot for untold miles. Interstate 81 was then entirely closed by the Commonwealth of PA due to the conditions. By 9 PM, EMS crews were deployed and set up a temporary operations center at a truck stop in the community. As motorists called 911 with issues, EMS crews responded with All Terrain Vehicles, finding motorists with problems or emergencies. A number of persons were field treated and/or abandoned their vehicles and taken to the temporary EMS operations center for additional treatment or assistance. FROM an INTERNAL PTAAEMS MEMO - from President Don Hudzinski Sr. TO ALL BOARD and EMS STAFF MEMBERS - PUBLIC RELATIONS - Regarding the recent storm, if you heard on the news, WNEP 16 specifically, there was Brian Lecky reporting that he and his photographer was stranded on I 81 in the Pittston Township jurisdiction for about 7 hours, and that no one was out checking on stranded motorists. On Thursday Feb 15, about 8AM, on WILK News Talk Radio, the same was being mentioned. Listening to the station at that time and as President of the PTAA, I was aware that our staff was out on duty, specifically, doing I 81 standby, being parked on Rt 315 in the vicinity of Oak St, Perkins, Mobile Mart, etc. I called WILK Radio, got on the air, identified myself and spoke about the EMS response during the storm in the Pittston Township area. I was questioned by Nancy Kman (host) about the responses and activity involved and the conversation lasted about 2 minutes. My "air time" was subsequently used as part of their news casts for the rest of the morning. In addition, the Times Leader called our station after hearing the WILK broadcast. I called the reporter and spoke to him on the EMS response. His article follows. While it in accurate in principal, its not a full description of the response duties performed and he did take some artistic liberty in his report (for example, I didn't say "mayhem"). What is important, is our diligence to our duty and the positive press we received. EMT's on duty Feb 14 for the I - 81 standby .... Jeff A, Alyssa B, Mark S Jr, Ralph D. These persons were began their shift at 4 PM Feb 14 and returned back at about 4 AM Feb 15. Thank you ! from the Times-Leader, Friday, Feb 16, 2007 published on page 3 Crews aid stranded I-81 motoristsPittston Township Ambulance Association members, others used their own ATVs to check on drivers. By EDWARD LEWIS This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it PITTSTON TWP. – Ambulance Association President Don Hudzinski had a one-word description for the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 on Wednesday: mayhem. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the highway early Wednesday afternoon and were unable to move because of the treacherous conditions. Members of the township ambulance association used their personal all-terrain vehicles to check on motorists who sat in idling vehicles for hours. At least two people with diabetes received treatment, Hudzinski said. State police asked the association to check on motorists at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, he said. The interstate in the Pittston Township area became impassable at about 2 p.m. Wednesday when heavy snow caused white-out conditions, said emergency medical technician Ralph Dixon. "Traffic was backed up from Avoca to the Sunshine (Market in Plains Township.) There were hundreds of cars all over," Dixon said. "I lost count on how many cars and people we checked." Maneuvering through stranded and abandoned vehicles, members of the volunteer group used their ATVs to check on the motorists. They offered water and warm liquids to motorists and passengers until 4 a.m. Thursday, Hudzinski said. "Anybody who had a cell phone and called 911 giving their make and model of their car, we checked out," Hudzinski said. "We easily had a 16-hour shift." Emergency medical technicians treated two individuals who reported diabetic emergencies. "They were treated in the field and were told to call back if they had another emergency," Hudzinski said. Members of the Pittston City Ambulance and Hughestown Fire Co. assisted. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews were busy early Thursday morning creating paths across the median to allow stranded northbound motorists to cross over to the southbound lanes. By the afternoon, the lanes were clear. ~~~end ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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