North Zion School Demonstration:  Baldwin EMS personnel Assistant Chief Todd Plunkett, Lieutenant Sue Wiedenheft and EMT Adam Simoni  conducted an EMS familiarization demonstration at the North Zion School.  Students were able to tour an ambulance and see equipment used by Paramedics.  Assistant Chief Plunkett and his K9 partner Band-Aid were on hand to perform a demonstration in K9 safety and usage of K9's in emergency situations.

 

K9 Demo:  K9 Band-Aid and handler Lt Plunkett Visit McAnulty Elementary.
K9 Demo:  K9 Band-Aid and handler Lt Plunkett performed a K9 demo at Boyce Park for the Girl Scouts.
National Night Out:  Summer of 2010 Baldwin EMS personnel along with K9 Band-Aid visit spectators at the National Night out in Baldwin Borough at Leland Point.
National Night Out:  Summer of 2010 Handler Plunkett and his K9 Partner Band-Aid visit spectators of the parade at block parties in Pleasant Hills Borough.

Daily News Article:

When children in Baldwin and Pleasant Hills spot the Baldwin EMS K-9 vehicle, they can't wait to see K-9 Band-Aid ... and that guy with her.  "They don't remember my name, but they know Band-Aid," said Band-Aid's handler Baldwin EMS Lt. Todd Plunkett. "Kids see my truck and they want to play with Band-Aid."  Due to numerous requests, Plunkett and the ambulance company's 41⁄2-year-old black Labrador retriever Band-Aid have trading cards available.  "Kids would say, 'Hey do you have a picture of Band-Aid?'" Plunkett said. "They see police officers have cards. They collect the cards. It's a good PR tool. Ninety percent of the K-9 program is PR. People don't go missing all the time."  He said the ambulance company's search-and-rescue K-9 and the new cards are helpful on ambulance calls as children in Baldwin EMS service area recognize him from his K-9 demonstrations  "If I've already met the child, it breaks down the barrier of having an official person there," Plunkett said. "If their mom or dad is sick, I can show them the new cards of Band-Aid. It keeps them occupied."  He also said while most kids might not read the information on the back of the card, their parents do.  Plunkett said the cards are also a way to recognize his trainer, Master Trainer Pat Moloney.  "The people I train with and work with are wonderful," Plunkett said. "You and your dog are nothing if you don't have a support system. Obedience is the groundwork of everything we do."  He said he and Band-Aid have been on approximately 30 searches with seven finds.  "We do a lot of searches when no one's there," Plunkett said.  He and his K-9 searched Rostraver Ice Garden when it collapsed Feb. 14 from snow.  "We were the first to search there and determined no one was alive in the building," Plunkett said. "No one was in there. I consider that a successful search."  The Baldwin EMS K-9 team found three 10-year-olds missing in the woods of Baldwin in seven minutes last October.  Earlier this month, Plunkett and Band-Aid along with Canine Aided Emergency Search & Rescue K-9 handler Dawn Goulait and her K-9 partner Cadeau found a missing man in a little more than an hour in Mt. Pleasant.  Plunkett stresses team work in searches.  "It's not just me and the dog," he said. "It takes a gigantic team and group of people."  Plunkett said he and Band-Aid are working on rubble searches to enhance her skills and capabilities.  The pair have eight hours of formal training per week in addition to daily training.  Plunkett and Band-Aid provide demonstrations in schools, at public events, scout meetings, nursing homes, mental health centers and many other places.

To get cards featuring Plunkett and Band-Aid or to set up a demonstration, call 412-884-0666 or e-mail Station510@BaldwinEMS.com.

 

North Zion School Demonstration:  Baldwin EMS personnel conducted an EMS familiarization demonstration at the North Zion School.  Students were able to tour Medic 512 and equipment used by paramedics by Paramedic Joe Baez.  Lieutenant Plunkett and his K9 partner Band-Aid were on hand to perform a demonstration in K9 safety and usage of K9's in emergency situations.

 

National Night Out:  Summer of 2009 Handler Plunkett and his K9 Partner Band-Aid visit spectators of the parade.
GS Group 50870 On 04/20/2009 the girl's from the girl scout group # 50870 visited Baldwin EMS.  While the group was at station 510 Lieutenant Todd Plunkett gave them a tour of the station.  The girls also toured the ambulance and equipment used by EMS personnel.  K9 band-aid was introduced to the girls by Handler Lt. Plunkett.  They were also taught about K9 safety and the benefits of K9's in the emergency profession.

  

 

Above Photos provided by # 50870

 
North Zion School Presentation

Vacation Bible School Visit The K9 team was invited to speak to the staff, children and their parents at a local Vacation Bible School program. The audience was very attentive to the information provided regarding dog safety and the search and rescue program

AARP # 2050:"What is Baldwin EMS?"  The K9 team were part of a community presentation to explain "What is Baldwin EMS" to a group of over 90 retired individuals as part of the monthly AARP Meeting.  The audience was provided information regarding the Search and Rescue Program with an opportunity for questions and answers.

Paynter Elementary School First Grade:  "Meet Band-Aid and Learn Canine Safety" Todd and Band-Aid met with the Paynter Elementary 1st Grade students and their teachers to introduce the EMS K9 Search and Rescue Program and to teach the students how to safely behave around unfamiliar dogs as well as their own family pets.  Students and teachers asked many questions about Band-Aid's birth, training, food, grooming, rescue missions, medical care and many more. 

 
Baldwin Borough Women's Club: "What is New With Baldwin EMS presentation": Todd introduced the K9 Search and Rescue Program to members of the Baldwin Borough Women's Club
An opportunity was provided for questions and answers and a "meet and greet of Band-Aid afterwards".  The group was also provided an update as to other programs offered by Baldwin EMS and FREE Adult CPR Training Kits were distributed.  

Band-Aid Visits Pleasant Hills Police DARE Christmas with Santa Program

Handler Lt. Todd Plunkett introduced Band-Aid to over 200 visitors, giving them the opportunity to greet her and to learn about her Search and Rescue Training Program.  He also gave copies of a training booklet that helps to educate children as to the proper behavior and handling of dogs.  Examples of the children's artwork completed during this program is displayed below.

 

 

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