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News and Public Information Amy Maxwell Public Information Officer
5/18-24, 2008 National EMS WEEK
The American College of Emergency Physicians today announced the 35th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week will be celebrated though out the nation this week. The event brings medical personnel together to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical “front line.” This year’s theme, “Your life is our mission” which underscores the commitment and dedication of the 750,000 EMS providers who serve their communities. The brave men and women employed by Hamilton County EMS are often first on the scene of a disaster, a motor vehicle crash or other event that may place them in a hazardous environment. It is important that we take the time to honor these front line medical responders for often going above and beyond the call of duty to save lives, while risking their own. This week long event includes national and local EMS providers to raise public awareness about health and safety issues, including how to prevent injuries and what to do in a medical emergency. I have attached a document on medical emergencies. This is provided by the American College of Emergency Physicians and provides great information for you to pass along to your viewers.
4/18/08 Simulated crash with underage drunk drivers at Central High School
The entire senior class at Central High School witnessed a simulated automobile crash involving teenage drivers and emergency responders, highlighting the dangers of drinking and driving. Participants involved were Central High School, Hamilton County EMS, HWY 58 Volunteer Fire Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Hamilton County Commissioner and Advisory Council on Traffic Safety Chairman Larry Henry, Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office DUI Prosecutor Jay Woods, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, Angel EMS, and Fridell’s Wrecker Service.
2/21/08 Hamilton County EMS employees recognized for their outstanding service
On Thursday, February 21, 2008 at the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association (TASA) Mid-Winter Conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, two individuals from Hamilton County EMS were recognized for their outstanding service in Emergency Medical Services.
Debbie Walden was the 2008 Runner-Up for the Larry Griffin Paramedic of the Year Award for the State of Tennessee.
Captain Darlene Poole was the winner of the 2008 Thomas Erwin Lifetime Achievement Award for the State of Tennessee.
(Left to Right: Debbie Walden, Captain Darlene Poole and Amy Maxwell)
1/31/08 Hamilton County Emergency Services celebrates 20 years of service On Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 11 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at the Hamilton County Operations Training Center, Hamilton County Emergency Services held a reception in celebration for 20 years of service. February 1, 2008 actually marks the 20th year celebration of Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services. What was established in 1988 to serve the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County, initially operating with two ambulances and 17 employees, has evolved to a premier system involving 14 ambulances and over 100 E.M.T.’s and Paramedics. Hamilton County EMS responds to all 9-1-1 medical emergencies across Hamilton County and most municipalities. The Service has been recognized nationally, having been named as the Paramedic Ambulance Service of the Year in 2005 by the National Association of E.M.T.’s. We want to honor our humble beginnings, acknowledge the current status, and look to future improvements. The Service provides state-of-the-art pre-hospital medical care, including advanced cardiac and stroke care. We have recently begun a national study of hypothermic care for CPR survivors and participate in the Tennessee Trauma System, providing the proper destination dependant on the level of injury. The citizens of Hamilton County can be proud of the level of service provided by H.C.E.M.S. and rest assured that we will continue to work towards advancements reflecting the improvements in our profession across the nation. As is reflected in our motto, “Setting the Standards of Care”, we continue to monitor the needs of our patients and strive towards the goals of the future.
Left to Right: Lt. Brian Gay, Lt. Greg Allen, Director Don Allen, Captain Darlene Poole and Captain Jeannie Stearns. These individuals were the first original employees who are still currently working with Hamilton County Emergency Services. 10/4/07 HCEMS participates in a simulated crash with underage drunk drivers at Red Bank High School Approximately 250 seniors from Red Bank High School witnessed a simulated automobile crash involving teenage drivers and emergency responders, highlighting the dangers of drinking and driving. Along with HCEMS, several agencies participated in this event, such as, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, Advisory Council on Traffic Safety, Hamilton County District Attorney's Office, Red Bank Fire Department, Red Bank Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and other volunteers.
5/23/2007 2007 EMS Awards Banquet Hamilton County EMS held its eleventh annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Chattanooga
Convention and Trade Center. Awards given to employees are as follows: Honorable Service Awards: · Years of Service: o 18 years: Chief Ken Wilkerson, Captain Jeannie Stearns, Captain Darlene Poole, Paul Feaster, Lt. David Thompson, and Paul Merriam. o 15 years: Marita Thatcher o 12 years: Captain Dale Head, Greg Sluder, Mike Frazey, and Mike Johnston. o 9 years: Lt. Andy Gienapp, Lt. Roger McDiffett, Ken Fryar and Greg Sluder o 6 years: Mike Hyde, Anthony Ragland and Tim Prince. o 3 years: Lt. Brian Bricker, Rusty Odom, Sean Ralston, Patrice Schermerhorn, Seth Gentry, Mike Whalen and Bobby Clark. · Education Award: Lt. Roger McDiffett, Patrice Schermerhorn, Tommy Gray, Sean Ralston, Drew Newman. · Stretcher Bearer of the Year: Kevin Miller (A-shift), Kevin Collins (B-shift) and Ronnie Smith (C-shift) · Grand Blue Ribbon of the Year: Lt. David Thompson · Chief’s Award: Lt. Brian Gay · Medical and Trauma Call of the Year o Medical Call: Lt. Billy Burnette, Wesley Webb and Rusty Odom o Trauma Call: Nancy Lockridge and Paul Bobenhausen · 2007 Medic of the Year RUNNER-UP: Nancy Lockridge · 2007 Medic of the Year: Debbie Walden
· Special presentation: Paramedic David “Doc” Clingman: First Retiree’ from HCEMS
· Good Samaritan Award: Tim Clounce, a TVA employee at the Wellness Center. In December of 2006, a gentleman walking on a treadmill suddenly went into cardiac arrest. Mr. Clounce used an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and brought the man’s pulse back. This gentleman survived and is doing well today.
5/21/2007 2007 EMS Awards Banquet Hamilton County EMS will hold its eleventh annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center. Awards given to employees are as follows: Honorable Service Awards:
5/21/2007 National EMS Week The American College of Emergency Physicians today announced the 34th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week will be celebrated though out the nation this week. The event brings medical personnel together to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical “front line.” This year’s theme, “EMS: Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Service”, which underscores the commitment and dedication of the 750,000 EMS providers who serve their communities. The brave men and women employed by Hamilton County EMS are often first on the scene of a disaster, a motor vehicle crash or other event that may place them in a hazardous environment. It is important that we take the time to honor these front line medical responders for often going above and beyond the call of duty to save lives, while risking their own. This week long event includes national and local EMS providers to raise public awareness about health and safety issues, including how to prevent injuries and what to do in a medical emergency. I have attached a document on medical emergencies. This is provided by the American College of Emergency Physicians and provides great information for you to pass along to your viewers. If you would like to schedule a “ride along” on our ambulances, please contact Lt. David Burdette at 209-5009.
5/16/06
2006 EMS Awards Banquet
Hamilton County EMS held its tenth annual Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Raddison Read House (Silver Ball Room). Awards given to employees were as follows: Honorable Service Awards: 15 years: Paul Bobenhausen, David Clingman, Nancy Lockridge, Jade Lockhard, Lt. John Miller and Lt. Frank Robinson. 12 years: Andy Ashford, Lt. David Burdette, Lt. Andy Gienapp, Mike Jones and Richard Toby. 9 years: Lt. Billy Blea, Captain Eric Ethridge, Tim Hixson and Scott Powell. 6 years: Dean Bowen, Robert Brinkley, Jay Jones, Scotty Lewis, Kevin Murphy, Doug Rogers, Cynthia Schermerhorn, Steve Scott, Gordon Vick, Tommy Meeks. 3 years: Amber Baxter, Mike Booth, Brian Ceraolo, Brad Davenport, Sherman Ford, Bradley Green, Michael Sharpe. Education Award: Drew Andrews Special Operations Award: Lt. Brian Bricker Stretcher Bearer of the Year: Andrew Voss, Bradley Green, and Brad Davenport Grand Blue Ribbon Award: David Thompson Chief’s Award: Captain Wade Batson
Medical and Trauma Call of the Year: Trauma: Shawn Slaughter, Mike Johnson and Lt. Frank Robinson Medical: Dean Bowen, Tracie Shannon and Lt. David Thompson 2006 Medic of the Year (Runner Up): Debbie Walden 2006 Medic of the Year: Lt. Frank Robinson Chief Ken Wilkerson, HCEMS, presented the “Good Samaritan Award” to a civilian for a Life Saving Event. Jamie Smith, a Bell South employee, was presented with this award for his quick emergency response. Mr. Smith came to a woman’s residence to fix her phone line and while he was there, the woman went into cardiac arrest. 5/15/06
National EMS Week
The American College of Emergency Physicians today announced the 33rd annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week will be celebrated though out the nation this week. The event brings medical personnel together to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical “front line.” This year’s theme, “EMS: Serving on Health Care’s Front Line”, which underscores the commitment and dedication of the 750,000 EMS providers who serve their communities. The brave men and women employed by Hamilton County EMS are often first on the scene of a disaster, a motor vehicle crash or other event that may place them in a hazardous environment. It is important that we take the time to honor these front line medical responders for often going above and beyond the call of duty to save lives, while risking their own. This week long event includes national and local EMS providers to raise public awareness about health and safety issues, including how to prevent injuries and what to do in a medical emergency. I have attached a document on medical emergencies. This is provided by the American College of Emergency Physicians and provides great information for you to pass along to your viewers. If you would like to schedule a “ride along” on our ambulances, please contact Lt. Jerry McDonald at 209-6932. 9/15/05
Hamilton County EMS Named EMT-Paramedic Emergency Medical Service of the Year
The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) has presented its 2005 EMT-Paramedic Emergency Medical Service of the Year Award to Hamilton County EMS of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This award, which recognizes ambulance services that provide outstanding value to their communities, is sponsored by ZOLL Medical Corp.
Members of the service received their award at the opening ceremonies at the 2005 EMS EXPO and NAEMT Annual Meeting in New Orleans on Aug. 25, and were also recognized at the NAEMT Annual Awards Dinner, which was sponsored by McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a division of McNeil-PPC Inc., at the conclusion of the NAEMT Annual Meeting.
Hamilton County EMS was established on Feb. 1, 1988 with 17 employees and one ambulance on each side of the Tennessee River. At the end of the first year, the service had expanded to five ambulances and 35 employees, and today, Hamilton County EMS has 14 ambulances and a staff of 120 full- and part-time employees.
In January 2003, Hamilton County EMS began training its employees in emergency management of acute stroke through a program developed by the University of Miami Medical School. Through this program, EMS crews can alert the receiving hospital to have appropriate personnel available to begin treating a stroke victim as soon as he or she arrives.
In February 2004, the service partnered with two local hospitals to take part in a project called Code STEMI. This is an alert that an EMS crew issues when they begin treating a possible ST elevation myocardial infarction (or heart attack) to ensure early treatment. When a crew begins treating such a patient, they notify the receiving hospital so a cardiac catheterization team can be ready to begin treating the patient as soon as he or she arrives at the hospital.
NAEMT celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2005. It is a national association of EMTs and paramedics that represents paid and volunteer EMS workers worldwide. NAEMT’s goal is to serve its members through educational programs, information services, membership benefits, effective representation, and recognition of the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who provide prehospital medical care.
Each year, NAEMT recognizes excellence in various areas of prehospital medical care with the presentation of individual and organizational achievement awards. These awards honor America’s EMS providers and organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership within the profession and outstanding commitment to prehospital medical care. For more information, visit the NAEMT Web site at www.naemt.org. 9/15/05
Kenneth L. Wilkerson, EMT-P, Named William Klingensmith EMS Administrator of the Year
Wilkerson received his award at the NAEMT Annual Awards Dinner in New Orleans on Aug. 27. The dinner, which was sponsored by McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a division of McNeil-PPC Inc., concluded the NAEMT Annual Meeting and EMS EXPO 2005.
Wilkerson has been EMS chief for Hamilton County EMS since August 1988. When he started, his department had 37 employees, five ambulances and a $1.5 million annual budget. Today, the department has grown to 120 employees, 14 ambulances and an annual $7 million budget. “Chief Wilkerson’s attention to requirements for ongoing in-service training for our EMTs and paramedics, constant review of emergency response calls, and continued review and upgrading of standards have contributed to the excellent performance of our Emergency Medical Service,” wrote Hamilton County EMS Director Donald L. Allen, Sr. in his nomination letter. “Chief Wilkerson has established a well-trained, committed management team to oversee the day-to-day operations and performance of our EMS. Patient care is paramount in the responsibilities of these front-line supervisors.”
Wilkerson has served on the Tennessee state EMS board since 2002. He is vice-mayor of Lakesite, Tennessee, and also chairs the city’s safety and security committee. In 2004, he received the EMS Administrator of the Year award from the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association.
NAEMT celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2005. It is a national association of EMTs and paramedics that represents paid and volunteer EMS workers worldwide. NAEMT’s goal is to serve its members through educational programs, information services, membership benefits, effective representation, and recognition of the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who provide prehospital medical care.
Each year, NAEMT recognizes excellence in various areas of prehospital medical care with the presentation of individual and organizational achievement awards. These awards honor America’s EMS providers and organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership within the profession and outstanding commitment to prehospital medical care. For more information, visit the NAEMT Web site at www.naemt.org. 8/2/05
Hamilton County EMS Medic 6 responded to a call on August 1, 2005 to a construction site for a male patient impaled on a piece of rebar. Medic 6 arrived on scene along with Lt. Billy Burnette, and the Chattanooga Fire Department to find a male patient impaled on a piece of rebar, did a quick assessment and activated the Emergency Medical Rapid Response Team (EMRRT) from Erlanger. EMRRT is a field surgical team that consists of a Trauma Surgeon, Emergency Medical Physician, and a Trauma Nurse. The team brings a variety of skills and treatment to reduce modality on the scene that includes: amputations, chest procedures, abdominal procedures, lab test, and blood administration. When EMRRT arrived on scene they did another quick assessment and stood-by while Chattanooga Fire Department used a torch to cut the rebar were the patient could be removed from the ditch. Hamilton County EMS Medic 6 then prepared the patient for transport and transported the patient to Erlanger Medical Center. All agencies worked well together and everyone who responded displayed true professionalism.
EMS PERSONNEL HONORED AT BANQUET
"You look sharp, and tonight's your night to shine," Mr. Allen told the audience. Taking home a top-honor was Lt. Billy Blea, a 10-year veteran of the department, who won Medic of the Year for 2005. Lt. John Miller took home several awards, including a Grand Blue Ribbon Award shared with Craig McDonald. Chief Ken Wilkerson praised the hard work of everyone at Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services. "What you do every day, on every call, makes a difference in a life," he said. With that in mind, Chief Wilkerson said emergency responders cannot "do it all by ourselves." He presented Weston Babbitt II with the Good Samaritan Award for rescuing a trapped victim from a burning car.
Chief Wilkerson honored Captain Darlene Poole for going "above and beyond" her assignment as head of training. "The amount of care and knowledge... comes from training," Chief Wilkerson said.
Brandy McCaleb received the Stretcher Bearer Award for B Shift. Seth Gentry received the Stretcher Bearer Award for C-Shift and Rusty Odam received the Stretcher Bearer Award for A-Shift.
Medical Call of the Year was Patrice Schermerhorn and Lt. John Miller. Trauma Call of the Year was Lt. John Miller and Mike Whalen. Mr. Allen also presented Captain Dale Head, Lt. Andy Gienapp and EMT-P Tim Prince with the Director's Award. Captain Head was able to receive his award. Lt. Gienapp and Tim Prince are still overseas serving our country.
2/17/05
On Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Hamilton County E.M.S. made a surprise visit to WestView Elementary School to present a plaque to two children who saved their grandmother's life. Aaron Levy is 10 years old and his sister, Brie Levy is 7 years old. On February 6, 2005, Peggy Bradley, the grandmother, was home with her two grandchildren when she began to have medical problems, causing her to fall face down and sustain serious injuries. Ms. Bradley said she had just enough breath to tell her grandchildren to call 9-1-1. The children stayed on the phone with dispatchers and answered the questions for them to relay the information to HCEMS. When the paramedics arrived on the scene, the children were calm and were very helpful to HCEMS personnel. Hamilton County E.M.S. wanted to recognize these two children for their quick actions and their ability to remain calm in a stressful situation.
2/10/05
After the plagues were presented, holding his grandson, Mr. Stevenson said "without the actions of these men I would not have known my grandson, I can never thank them enough and me and this little guy will spend allot of time in the future fishing together." Paramedic Shelton then spoke and said "As a paid professional or volunteer there is no amount of money that could be compared to the recognition and words of Thank You from someone whose life you touched."
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The National
Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) has named Kenneth
L. Wilkerson, EMT-P, chief of emergency medical services for Hamilton
County EMS in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as its 2005 William Klingensmith
EMS Administrator of the Year. This award, which recognizes an EMS
administrator who has made a significant contribution to the EMS
community, is sponsored by Merginet.com.
On
May 18, 2005, Hamilton County Emergency Services honored top performers
and celebrated 17 years of emergency response during an awards ceremony
at the Raddison Read House. "We started out with 2 ambulances," Director
Don Allen said. Now Hamilton County EMS has 14 ambulances answering
calls every day, he said. Medics are trained in tactical rescues and
paramedics host safety programs to educate students at area schools.
Hamilton County
Commissioner Bill Hullander presented an Award of