T h e P u l s eT h e P u l s eT h e P u l s eT h e P u l s e A Newsletter by and for the Employees of Charles County Emergency Medical Services

A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF

BY: CHIEF FILER

Inside This Issue:Inside This Issue:Inside This Issue:Inside This Issue: On the Street On the Street On the Street On the Street pg.2

From the CountyFrom the CountyFrom the CountyFrom the County pg.3

Bowling!Bowling!Bowling!Bowling! pg.3

Another Baby Girl! Another Baby Girl! Another Baby Girl! Another Baby Girl! pg.4

BirthdaysBirthdaysBirthdaysBirthdays pg.4

Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar pg.8

Way back in the day when I first became a paramedic (they still rode on the back step of the truck), I had a partner who was one of those “book medics” who knew it all but never actually did it. He was senior to me and would spend hours going over the rig with me until I knew it front and back with my eyes closed. I spent many a slow day going over each piece of equipment all the way down to the differences in three-way stopcocks we kept in the bag. Sounds kind of nerdy but it was true. He knew every inch of the rig and every piece of kit in the bags and had a pre-plan for every possible scenario but we never actually ran a working code or “serious” call in the year and a half we worked together. He was the true epitome of the “white cloud”.

One day on a routine sick call to an as-sisted living center, my partner and I found ourselves transporting this 85 years young lady with a minor stomach ache priority three to one of the City ER’s. I was driving with the radio on, window down and the sun that perfect end of day orange ever so above the rec-ommended speed limit when I heard a casual “hey John stop for a second and come back here and give me a hand” from the back. Not thinking much of it I casually pulled the rig over and strolled to the rear of the unit, opened the back doors and found my partner casually per-

forming CPR on our patient. I quickly went into new paramedic mode and be-gan to freak out. After a few attempts of trying to start an IV on a geriatric patient with no veins (pre-IO drill) in full cardio pulmonary arrest, my partner smacked me in the back of the head and said “calm down, we got this”. And to this day it was the smoothest code I have ever been on; and it was with a guy who had never run a code in his entire career until that point in time.

The moral of this story is we really don’t know what life is going to throw at us but being well prepared and training for the worst will pay off when it really mat-ters. Many law enforcement and mili-tary instructors will tell you that in times of crisis we will only rise to our highest level of training never to the level of our expectations. In our field it becomes all too easy if not common place to be complacent and somewhat lackadaisical at times. Being prepared and having a plan and or backup plan is critical in what we do or may be called upon to do. At any given time and at a mo-ment’s notice life can take a complete 180 degree turn and it really doesn’t take that much effort to spend a little time going over your kit to insure that you will rise to your highest level. When tragedy is all around and people are looking to you for solutions, it is our job to calm everyone down and remind them that “we got this”.

“We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.”

-Ronald Reagan

Volume 4, Issue 3

March 2010

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QUIZ OF THE MONTH:

Can CPR be performed on an LVAD patient?

….on the street….

From the Office of Health and Safety

….and

Please welcome new full time Paramedic

Jeaniffer Werring !! Services

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In keeping with the County's green initiatives, you now have a web-based system that will provide you the

ability to view and print payroll information online. The online information includes all of the information that

you currently receive and more! All individuals on the Charles County Government's payroll will have access

to their payroll information. The new PAYROLL WEB PORTAL is designed to move Charles County Gov-

ernment towards a paperless, direct deposit environment. The transition to the PAYROLL WEB PORTAL

will began March 1, 2010. During the transition period, you will continue to receive your direct deposit state-

ments, and you will also have access to the PAYROLL WEB PORTAL.

Payroll Web Portal

AMF WALDORF BOWLING CENTER

INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A

FREE BOWLING BASH

FOR CCG EMPLOYEES

AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

AMF Waldorf Bowling Center

(11920 Acton Lane)

Sunday, March 28, 2010 From

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

“Thanks for a Job Well Done” During the Recent Snow Storms!

All “first responder” staff were invited and we

still have space available for ALL employees.

Come and enjoy a great time of

FREE bowling!**** Bring your family or friends!

FREE for everyone! (free bowling shoes also included!)

From the County….

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Welcome Autumn!

Congratulations

Grandpa Sanders!

Autumn Riley Jefferson

Born Oct. 23 at 7:35pm

7lbs 13oz 20 inches

Red hair, blue eyes

Proud grandparents: Dave and Cheri Sand-

ers

Proud parents: Ashley (their daughter) and

Scott Jefferson

Tom Raley 3-13

Nancy Jones 3-22

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From the Desk of… Capt. Jones The College of Southern Maryland has partnered with the Department of Emergency Services in a new

clinical agreement that will allow students enrolled in CSM's ALS program to perform clinical field rota-

tions with our preceptors. Lt Campbell will serve as a liaison for these students and will be responsible for

notifying preceptors when students are scheduled for their shift. Should you have any questions about this

new program, please contact me.

Robbie Jones, EMS Captain

Charles County DES, EMS Division

Office - (301) 609-3427

Cell - (301) 399-0079

Join us for a morning of fun and fitness to celebrate the courage displayed by our local children battling cancer. The event begins with a 5k walk/run that circles Short Pump Town Center (Richmond VA). After the race, head into the mall's main plaza for a family festival featuring live music from The Jangling Reinharts as well as free food samples and children's activities. We will also recognize our top 5k runners and fundraisers for their hard work. All proceeds from the ASK Fun Walk & 5k presented by Anthem will directly support children battling cancer right now in our area through ASK's many programs. For more infor-mation on ASK and how we're making life better for children with cancer, go to w w w . a s k w e b . o r g .

Help A Kid Outrun Cancer! Welcome to ASK's 5th Annual Fun Walk & 5K

The 'A' Team Adam Lumpkins

I am walking in honor of my son, who in 2008,

at the young age of 1 year was diagnosed with

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He is undergoing

treatment until summer of 2012,as long as he

doesn't relapse. As hard as this has been on my

son and our entire family, the organization of

ASK has made it a little easier to deal with, by

having special things for the kids, like Kings Do-

minion Day, Christmas parties,etc. They keep a

treasure box in the chemo office for kids to pick

out a prize when they are finished with their

chemo for the day. They also have things for

siblings to do. This is a great organization and I

hope to help them by raising as much money as

possible. Thanks again!!!!

Donate by talking to CCEMS team

members Jamie Lumpkins, Liz

Caswell (EMS 3) or Jean Wright or

by going to :

www.blueskycollaborative.com/

asksweet/participantpage.asp?

uid=372&fundid=119

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The Chief himself in a

“do what I do” mo-

ment. He has on all of

the gear we are ex-

pected to wear during

an extrication….

Pat Moore and Marjorie Powers

A patient called the Director’s office and wanted to say

thank you for taking such good care of him. He said that

both of you were very courteous, pleasant, and made him

feel at ease.

I SPY

CAUGHT IN THE ACT!

….of doing the right thing

Photo courtesy G. Barnes

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Mark Your Calendars….

S U N M O N T U E W E D T H U F R I S A T

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 DST begins

15 16 17 18 19 20 1st day of spring!

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 Palm Sunday Bowling 11am

29 30 Passover

31

S U N M O N T U E W E D T H U F R I S A T

1 2 Good Friday

3

4 5 6 School starts

7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 Deferred Comp ES

Bldg 10 am

16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

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Charles County Department of

Emergency Services, EMS Division

P.O. Box 2150

LaPlata, MD

20646

Questions or Newsletter Submissions:

E. Campbell, PIO, EMS Lt.

Phone: 301-399-8156

E-mail: CampbelE@charlescounty.org

Mission Statement The mission of Charles County Government is to provide our citizens the highest quality service possible in a timely, efficient, and courteous manner. To achieve this goal, our government must be operated in an open and accessible atmosphere, be based on comprehensive long- and short-term planning, and have an appropriate mana-

gerial organization tempered by fiscal responsibility.

Vision Statement Charles County is a place where all people thrive and businesses grow and prosper; where the preservation of our heritage and environment is paramount; where government services to its citizens are provided at the highest level

of excellence; and where the quality of life is the best in the nation.

ANSWER TO QUIZ:

Due to the location of the LVAD and its proximity to the heart, there are risks associated with

performing chest compressions. CPR may damage the LVAD itself or dislodge tubing, resulting

in massive hemorrhage. CC Medical Director Dr. Mitchell has determined that CPR will not

be used in this jurisdiction. Written order to follow.

Mission Statement CCEMS It is the mission of the Charles County Department of Emergency Services, EMS Division to provide superior quality

emergency medical support to the citizens of Charles County, Maryland and requesting jurisdictions.

Vision Statement CCEMS With well-trained, capable and professional personnel; The Charles County Department of Emergency Services, EMS Division will provide the best premium quality of preventative and emergency care in the fastest, most efficient and cost effective manor possible to the citizens of Charles County, Maryland and requesting jurisdictions. It is the

goal of the Charles County Emergency Services, EMS Division to be at the vanguard of pre-hospital emergency care.