Aspirus | Aspire | Spring 2019

aspirus.org 9 IT’S OFTEN taken for granted that when you experience an emergency, an ambulance can arrive quickly to your location. In rural areas, however, having local emergency medical services (EMS) readily available is not always a given. Some areas of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan experience a hardship in the availability of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. A lack of resources hampers educational programs, which contributes to the low availability of EMS professionals. In response, Aspirus MedEvac is using its resources to not only provide EMS services, but also work with local communities and agencies to provide important training and education. Education Aspirus MedEvac employs staff members licensed to instruct EMS courses in Michigan and has partnered with Gogebic Community College in Ironwood to re-establish an EMT-Basic course. The five-month course allows area residents to gain the skills and training to be an EMT and to provide lifesaving care to their community. A great success, the course produced its first group of graduates in March. “We are very fortunate to hold EMS courses again in the western U.P., continuing to strengthen the EMS system in the communities we serve,” said Robert Kirkley, manager of MedEvac operations and program director for Gogebic’s EMS program. “By providing initial and continuing education for EMS locally, EMS providers are not required to travel to What is MedEvac? Aspirus MedEvac provides 24-hour emergency air and groundmedical transportation for critically ill and injured people in central and northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It also provides a variety of outreach and education programs to communities, including: X X Accident scene and disaster exercises. X X Landing zone training. X X Continuing education for hospital departments and EMS providers. X X Public educational classes. obtain and maintain their licenses and certifications.” Gogebic Community College will soon offer a Medical First Responder program, which may increase to advanced EMT and paramedic level in the future. Afocusonstroke In 2018, in an effort to help reduce the number of people dying or being seriously disabled by stroke, Aspirus MedEvac became the first and only air TRAINING INYOURNEIGHBORHOOD Go online to aspirus.org/medevac to learn more about Aspirus MedEvac’s services or to request an outreach event or education session in your community. service in the state to become a Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program EMS Partner. “MedEvac is committed to educating local EMS and the public on identifying the early warning signs of stroke and calling 911 so important treatment can start before a patient even arrives at the hospital,” said Jeffrey Freese, CCEMT-P, education and outreach coordinator for Aspirus MedEvac. “The quicker treatment begins, the less brain damage and the better the chances of survival.” Bringing EMS to you