PA Region 4 EMS Strike Team Training: April 5-6, 2008 – Six Baldwin EMS Paramedics, along with Chief Plunkett, traveled to Darlington, Pa for a two-day field training exercise.  Personnel and equipment from throughout the region came together to erect a completely self-sufficient medical encampment.  This blending of personnel and resources illustrated that this team could respond to a disaster stricken area and provide medical services without dependence on local resources.   Many of these resources which have been obtained through Homeland Security Grants are maintained by Baldwin EMS at Station 510 for local and regional deployments.  Click on the website link below to view a 7 minute video that highlights the two-day training session 

Portable Ultrasound Training: Dr. Eric Brader, EMS Medical Director introduced a portable ultrasound unit that may someday be used by EMS personnel in the field.  All Baldwin EMS personnel were given an opportunity to use the device and collect images of the internal jugular, carotid artery, myocardium, descending aorta, inferior vena cava and extremity venous vasculature.

NEW Mass Casualty Equipment Training: Tom McElree led a demonstration of the proper assembly of equipment to create a field triage and treatment center to a group of fellow Baldwin EMS personnel and Todd Pritchard and D.J. Taylor from MRTSA.  The pictures are displayed in the assembly sequence starting with removal of the equipment from the MCI 480 Trailer and ending with a complete assembly that included working interior and exterior lighting and also thermostatically controlled HVAC. 

Orthopedic Emergencies:Bill Miller, Physician Assistant from Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh's Department of Emergency Medicine presented a very interesting review of orthopedic emergencies in a case review format.

SCBA Training:  New Units Placed Into Service All SCBA units have been replaced with FireHawk 4500 PTC CBRN Solid Cap SCBA Airframe with dual pull handles that house a H-45 LP Stealth cylinder.  The facepieces are Ultra Elite Facepieces MSA 4500 that equipped with clear command, Nightfighter Heads-Up Display System with RIC ICM TX.   All personnel underwent computerized facepiece fitting and then a hands-on training session with the new units.

Highway Traffic Safety Lt. Todd Plunkett has developed a Highway Traffic Safety Education Program that is intended to review fundamental safety measures that should be second nature to all public safety personnel.  However, the uniqueness of this program is the fact that the participants are introduced to many additional new safety concepts that are not normally practiced by EMS personnel.  The program includes video footage of real situations in which unsafe scene practices resulted in bodily injury to public safety personnel.  In addition to the didactic portion of the program, all participants have the opportunity to work through scene scenarios using a variety of traffic-way situations.  The knowledge gained from this training can be used at accident scenes and/or every day medical emergency calls.  Baldwin EMS has adopted all of the safety principles that are covered in this program and require that all personnel attend the training.  Below are pictures of EMS personnel using the training strategies learned during the program: 

Patient Assessment Lab Training The training focus for January 2006 was a review of patient assessment skills and treatment.  The training program consisted of creating an austere environment for the delivery of patient care and treatment.  The scenario created for the individual crews was that they were dispatched to call for a cry for help coming from a van that was found by bystanders at the bottom of a ravine.  It is a very cold January evening and the crew arrives at the top of the ravine and can see the van that had apparently drove off road into wooded area.  Due to the nature of this call, and as part of the training, the crews were instructed to dress in full turnout gear.  The crew of two decided what equipment they would take with them and traveled to the van.  Equipment used in every day care delivery was available to the crew for their choosing.  Additional medical and rescue crews would normally respond to assist but were for this scenario, were delayed in responding to help this crew due to other calls.

To create a dark work environment (winter evening) the van windows were completely blackened out.  The crews  were directed to enter the van through the rear doors and then close them.  The crew found the patient, CAO and began their assessment and treatment as they would in a real situation.  The EMTs were instructed lead the initial patient assessment, interview and treatment.  As the call progressed, the Paramedics began ALS interventions.  The patient deteriorated and required aggressive resuscitation efforts.  The crews were able to experience some of the difficulties associated with providing extended patient care while wearing turnout gear in the dark environment.  The patient condition eventually stabilized as the Rescue 50 crew arrived.

The crew then discussed options to safely remove the patient from the ravine to the ambulance using mechanical advantage and other equipemtn resources from Rescue 50.  The practical portion of the scenario concluded and the final phase of the training was to complete a Patient Care Report (PCR).  

2005 High Tech Rescue Training Course, Middletown Kentucky

October 7-9, 2005 Baldwin EMS and Pleasant Hills VFC personnel left Pittsburgh to travel to Middletown Kentucky to attend an all hands-on vehicle rescue training program.  The Middletown Fire Protection District Training Center was used for the two-day training session.  Eight (8) work stations referred to as "Pits" were set-up for the students to rotate through after approximately 90 minutes at each station.  The photos below illustrate the challenges that the rescuers faced at each of the stations.

2005 Weapons of Mass Destruction Training

Paramedic Lieutenant Paul Shiring coordinated this year's review of WMD.  He presented a program that all EMS personnel participated in that consisted of a three-phase training program designed to review a variety of aspects related to preparation and response to a WMD incident.  The training consisted of classroom lecture, leading up to review of tools and equipment immediately available to EMS personnel and also resources available from local and county agencies.  The program concluded with a simulated response to a WMD incident.

Phase One:  A powerpoint presentation created by Mark Pinchalk, Paramedic Crew Chief, Pittsburgh EMS and expanded by Paul Shiring, Paramedic Lieutenant, Baldwin EMS.  The classroom lecture reviewed response to a WMD incident, review of protective clothing, recognition of signs and symptoms of WMD affected patients and appropriate treatment and transport of these patients.

Phase Two:  Mr. Alan Hausman, Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services and Mr. Shawn Gursofsky and Mike Nagy of Jefferson Regional Medical Center Emergency Department brought a variety of resource equipment that is available through Allegheny County or Jefferson Regional Medical Center.  Some of the equipment that was demonstrated was a various styles of respiratory protection equipment, chemical and radiological detection equipment and a field-deployable decontamination system.

Phase Three:  A scenario was created to simulate an incident involving a chemical release affecting multiple patients.  EMS crews were tasked to don protective equipment, establish a decontamination process for patients and rescuers, retrieve the patients and conclude with decontamination.

 

Bus Crash Rescue Review

EMS Response to a bus crash poses many challenges......

Preparation for such an incident requires training and practice.  EMS and E.S.U. Police Officers participated in a training program that addressed the unique challenges that emergency medical and police personnel face when responding to a mass transit vehicle crash.  Below are pictures that illustrate the training review that consisted of a classroom power point presentation and also a hands-on walk through of 12 different style mass transit vehicles.  This gave the participants the opportunity to review the mechanical and electrical components of each vehicle, operate and identify the various means to gain access inside the vehicles and also removal pathways for patients.  Many thanks and appreciation is extended to the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, Port Authority Transit and of course the program instructor, Mr. Edgar Davies for their efforts in making this an excellent training review.  

Decontamination Training

EMS personnel reviewed the process to dress-out personnel in protective equipment when faced with a contaminated patient who requires gross decontamination.  The photos below illustrate the preparation phase, patient access, extrication and gross decontamination of the patient and each rescuer.  

2004 Basic Rescue Practices (BRP) Course

Baldwin EMS personnel are finished participating in a bridged Basic Rescue Practices course.  

Go to the links below to follow us throughout the course.

Day 1 Sessions Click Here 

Day 2 Sessions Click Here

Day 3 AM Session Click Here

Day 3 PM Session Click Here

Day 4 Final Class Click Here

Forcible Entry Training

Lt. Todd Plunkett led B-line personnel through a review of the operation and use of the whizzer saw.  In addition, EMS and ESU Police personnel reviewed and practiced with several power saws used for forcible entry.  Crews are shown using the whizzer saw, K-12 and also chain saws.  

EMS and Police WMD Decontamination Training

Baldwin EMS Paramedics and Baldwin Police Officers trained in the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) equipment.  Over the last two years, both departments have received hours of classroom training in WMD.  The photographs below illustrate a recent training exercise.

Paramedics and Police Officers practiced intelligence gathering, the integration of EMS and Police operations, the application of  personal protective equipment, victim removal, decontamination of victims and rescuers and research of chemicals used in the WMD attack.

Paramedics and Officers worked in teams to provide victim rescue and law enforcement activities.  All personnel were exposed to physical exertion and extended time in the protective clothing.

Eric Poach,  a WMD Instructor and member of the Mercy Hospital Office of Pre-Hospital Services was present during the class to assist and evaluate training.  Kevin Miracle and Jim Blosser also from Mercy Hospital, were on hand to observe the training.