Here are the highlights of the week of March 8-15th. 

We have word that Justin and Adri and Oona have arrived safely in St. Louis. It is so hard to believe they are not here anymore.  They have become a part of our family. We will miss being part of Oona's life as she grows up.
 

   

Tom is instructing an IV Endorsement Class for Ruth, one our volunteers. Ruth is an EMT and also a Lab Technician, providing her with the additional training will allow her to use her skills on emergency calls. Part of the training involves starting IVs on a "real person". The instructor will always offer up his/her arm to evaluate proper technique.

On Saturday Vikki and Cindy taught an Advanced Cardiac Care Class (ACLS) to 10 students.

The class was composed of Nursing Students, Nurses, Paramedics, a PA Student, and a Nurse Practitioner. It was a great group of students!

There was lots of action, team work, intensity and fun!!

The Methow Valley is fortunate to have such talented, passionate health care providers.

Rick and Kurt washing Medic 866.

Cindy was the guest speaker at The Methow Valley Inn Supper Club http://www.methowvalleyinn.com/news-and-events/monday-night-supper-club/ .  The topic was medical care in the Methow Valley in the 1960-1970s and the start of Aero Methow Rescue Service.She read excerpts from "Pay You in Hay" a book Dr. Henry wrote about being a small town doctor. The book is available at Ulrich Pharmacy, Trails End Bookstore, the Shafer Museum http://www.shafermuseum.com/and Aero Methow Rescue Service. 

It was a friendly crowd!

 The ambulances are cleaned and disinfected after each run. In addition once a month we "deep clean" one of the ambulances.  This involves taking everything out of and cleaning and disinfecting all the nooks, crannies  and hidden spots and exterior waxing. 

 

Wax on - Wax off!

I missed a  a great photo on Wednesday. Glenda from Okanogan County Department of Emergency Services http://okanogandem.org/ came for a meeting at Aero Methow Rescue to update the Methow Valley Emergency Plan. In attendance were representatives from the Washington State Patrol, Okanogan Fire District #6,  Twisp Police Department, the Winthrop Barn http://www.winthropbarn.com/ and Aero Methow,   We were all engaged in our project and I forgot to take photos. 

I hope you are getting an idea of what a week is like here at Aero Methow Rescue Service. I have not added pictures of the emergency responses and if I do they will be generic, non-descriptive photos to protect the privacy of the patients we care for. This week we responded to 2 Trauma Calls, 6 Medical and  1 transport to the  funeral  home. In future postings I will not continue to share photos of our routine duties! But I will keep you posted on all current events! 

I have allowed comments of which are moderated by me (Cindy). We will see how that works out. Meanwhile stay safe and be healthy!     Cindy 

This is a great article from Kelly Huffman from the Grist.  Thank you Kelly.  http://www.methownet.com/grist/features/911_system.html

The week of February 28th to March 7th at Aero Methow Rescue.

I am selecting a few interesting highlights to show you what life is like at Aero Methow.

Thursday night we had a staff goodbye dinner for Justin, Adri and Oona.

See the letter Justin wrote the community under "My Turn" in the Methow Valley News (it is at the bottom of the page) http://methowvalleynews.com/opinion.php . We will miss Justin, Adri and Oona, they are part of our family and have added so much to what we do. Thank you for all you have done for our service and the community!! We love you!!

As soon as dinner was finished Justin and crew responded on an emergency call.

Off they go!

One of my goals this year was to get Vikki out on the ski trails and to do the 200K challenge from MVSTA http://www.mvsta.com/200K.html. We try to get out one day a week that we aren't working. Friday we skied Thompson Ridge & Meadow Lark at Sun Mt. http://www.mvsta.com//sunmap.html. The snow is going fast!

Sunday March 3rd was Rick's first day at work. Here Byron is mentoring him through the Sunday rig inspections. Welcome Rick!

First Fleet/Building Team Meeting with Kurt, Rick and Byron.

Rearranging the crew office for Rick.

Monday starts off  with Rig Checks, Rescue Fitness and Monday Team Meeting. I will not bore you with more pictures of our routine duties.

Kurt teaches First Aid/CPR for most of the day.

 Cindy and Vikki work on an ACLS Class they are teaching on Saturday.

We do daily checks on the ambulances and then detailed monthly inventory check. The ambulance at the far end is usually stationed in Winthrop. It came down for the day to be inventoried.

Rick and Vikki counting and documenting -- a place for everything and everything in it's place!

Kurt and Rick changing a light bulb!  Always something to do!



The first Monday of every month the High Angle Rescue Team meets for training. Here Mark has packaged Kurt in the litter.

One of our new volunteers. CB, is studying to take the National Registry Exam. Tom stopped in to see how was doing.

Cindy and Becky listen to a Webinar on What's New In Medicare - 2013.

Employees and volunteers are encouraged to work out to prevent injuries. Notice the backboard in the background. We load it with sandbags to simulate a patient and perform dead lifts with a partner.

Vikki is meeting with Sandra Rasmussen with Edward Jones. Sandra is the Financial Advisor for our Retirement Accounts http://edwardjones.com .

Ann Henry (Mom) brings us cookies each Thursday.

 Kurt teaching a First Aid/CPR Class to the Town of Twisp employees.

Vicki is prepared for a day of training!

Chief  Budrow has it all under control! He is clearing the scene so he can use the AED on the manikin.

Vikki and deputies planning Search and Rescue Training.



Hello! I am starting a blog about what we do here at Aero Methow Rescue Service. I will post a week's worth of photos and stories every Thursday!   
Enjoy!
 

Highlights of the Week



Every morning the on call crew does a "rig check". Here are Vikki, Kurt and Theresa.



We meet twice a week for Rescue Fitness Training (RFT). On Monday Justin is reviewing proper lifting. We do lots of squats, dead lifts & pull ups!

We meet as a team every Monday morning to plan the week and keep everyone informed of any change in scheduling, equipment, meetings, training etc.

Kurt and Bill transported a patient to Mid Valley Hospital. They have cleaned the ambulance and are preparing to return to the valley.

 

 Every quarter all responders train in High Efficiency CPR with the feedback manikin, AED and multifunction Zoll, King Airway, Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI), Intraosseous Placement (IO), Infant and Child CPR and epi administration.

Here Justin is evaluating Vikki placing the King Airway. 

 

 Raleigh Bowden, MD with the Lookout Coalition explains what the Lookout Coalition does and how we can all work together to help those in need of their services. Thank you Raleigh for your vision and for working to fill a need in our community, You are great!!!

 

The volunteers perform their quarterly skill checks. We meet the 3rd Monday of every month for required training. Here Sara is being evaluated by Kurt Oakley. 

Josh being evaluated with the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD). Josh lives in Mazama and was on the team when a gentlemen suffered  a cardiac arrest at the Mazama Store. The patient was successfully resuscitated with PAD at the Mazama Store.



Tuesday starts with Yoga!

Theresa will not miss Tuesday morning Yoga, even when she is on call and has a sprained ankle (that is why she is wearing her boots!).

 

 



 

We communicate regularly with local law enforcement officers.

 

 

 

 Sara is being evaluated by Carolyn with Byron acting as the patient. Sara is a wildland firefighter and needed to make up some skills prior to leaving for the summer. We wish her a safe summer and hope to see her in the fall! Carolyn is a volunteer EMT, EMS Evaluator, American Heart Association CPR/First Aid Instructor and a school bus driver, real estate agent and rancher!

 

 

Ouch!! Patient dropped a desk on her toe. They stopped by on their way to the doctor to make sure the bleeding was under control.

 

Cindy, Theresa and Tom attending a Regional Training and Education Meeting via phone. Phone meetings save gas, mileage on the vehicles and allows the on call crew to attend meetings.

 



Ah!! The life of a Paramedic -- Tom doing a run report.

 Thursday morning workout.

 Theresa at SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life). SAIL is a twice a week injury prevention and exercise program for qualified seniors.

A war hero and he is my hero!! He is doing his squat exercise with assistance. Someone needs to monitor him or he will work too hard and too fast!

 

Theresa and Cindy presented Fall Prevention Information to the Senior Citizens Center - they are my favorite people!!! We work to educate them on injury prevention to keep them safe!

 

Freddie presented a check from the Senior Citizens to help support our mission. Thank you Freddie!

 

 

 

Justin's Last Day. His box is packed, so sad!! He is moving to St. Louis, MO where his wife will be attending Nursing School.

 

 


One last visit with Tom.

 

 His box is packed and he is ready to leave. We will miss him, his lovely wife Adri and their beautiful daughter.