By Greg Schieber
Special for the Argus
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade; or in the case of the Caledonia Ambulance Service, throw a Chicken-Q.
State aid cuts have decreased the operating budgets of city, county, and state organizations across the board and the Caledonia Ambulance Service is not immune. But if the 21 member ambulance crew has anything to say about it, those cuts aren’t going to prevent them from keeping the ambulances stocked with the state of the art equipment needed to protect the community.
Sunday, May 17, the Caledonia Ambulance Service will host a Chicken-Q from 10:30 until 2:30 and a 5k run/walk to begin at 1 p.m. The first-time fundraiser is an attempt to raise money for a cardiac defibrillator/monitor. This instrument can measure blood pressure, pulse oximetry, heart rhythms, and continually monitor a person’s heart activity through 12-lead EKG.
An EKG is a measurement of the electrical activity of the heart. The jagged line coming from the beeping computer next to the hospital patient, a common prop in movie scenes, is the readout from an EKG. It also serves as an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) when a shock to the heart is necessary. It is portable, cutting edge, and expensive. Fifteen thousand dollars reads the price tag.
Caledonia has two ambulances. The newer ambulance is already equipped with a cardiac defibrillator/monitor but the older one is still without, hence the effort to raise money.
“We had budgeted for it and it was cut out of budget,” explained Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom. “It’s really important to have both our ambulances stocked identically. They are both stocked to standards, however we’re trying to be as advanced as possible and provide the optimal level of care we can for our community. We’re moving forward in the world of EMS. Most basic life support ambulance services do not provide 12-lead EKG. We’d probably be the first service in Southeastern Minnesota.”
How often do both ambulances get used at the same time you may wonder? More often than you’d .think. “Today they were both out this morning,” stated one of the first responders and event organizers, Sue Felten. In addition, an ambulance is usually present at more life threatening events, such as motocross, demolition derbies, and the Eitzen Fourth of July celebration, leaving one for other calls. A record number of calls, 341, were responded to in 2008 and 2009 is off to a similarly busy start.
When this instrument is used in the field, it can streamline the actions taken once the patient arrives at the hospital since the preliminary observations will have already been made. In route, EMS personnel are able to call ahead to the hospital and prep the doctor with vital information.
The fundraiser is happening in conjunction with the national EMS week beginning May 17. EMS week serves to recognize and promote emergency personnel nationwide. This year’s theme is Proud Partners in Your Community, a theme Tornstrom says fits perfectly with their vision. “We want to be as active as possible and interact with the people we care for,” he said.
In the past year the ambulance crew has grown to 21 EMTs and first responders. As a way to promote being an EMT, Tornstrom applied to the state for a variance that would allow first responders, who have a lower level of training than an EMT, to become a part of the crew to see if they like it before investing time and energy into becoming an EMT. Five first responders have since been hired.
With the increase in staff, Tornstrom stated, “we’ve been typically running 50 percent of the time with three person crews. Minimum standard is two EMT’s in Minnesota.”
In addition to an increase in staff, Caledonia Ambulance is placing more of an emphasis on community outreach and education. More classes are being taught and last month Joannie Schmidt was named “outreach coordinator.”
The 21 members of the ambulance crew have all chipped in to make the event successful. “Everybody has come forward to do a job and get it done, not just one,” Felten explained. “They’re all excited. It’s a group effort.”
Tornstrom agreed stating, “I’ve seen a tremendous synergy of attitudes and personnel. Through the process of this fund raiser alone and many other projects we’ve completed the team building and team effort has really gone into place. Most of the crew are very optimistic to the future of this service, excited about implementing new things. It sparks interest again.”
The Chicken-Q is being catered by Rooster Andy’s. Beans, coleslaw, and a drink are included in the meal. Tickets are $7.50 in advance and $8 at the door. They are available from all ambulance crew members and at City Hall. Carry outs are available and even (express) delivery is being offered, in the ambulance of course. Call 725-5754 to order a carry out. They will serve until 2:30 or until supplies are gone, and everything is happening at the ambulance station on Main Street.
Make sure you bring your running shoes. Members of the ambulance crew have been training and feel pretty confident in their abilities to out compete other contenders in the 5k run/walk and welcome and encourage challengers of all abilities. Word on the street is if Mike Tornstrom doesn’t finish in the top five he has to scrub the ambulance top to bottom with a tooth brush the next time it needs a washing.
The race will start and finish at the ambulance station. A $20 entrance fee gets you a spot in the race and a t-shirt. Registration will be accepted the day of the race. The race will be run on a safe route through town.
If you are unable to attend the day’s events, but would like to support the purchase of the new equipment, donations are more than welcome. Contact Mike Tornstrom at 507-450-3201.
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