Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad - Page 1

October 2013

ImportantDates

· October 8 - Executive CommitteeMeeting - Station 14 1830

· October 14 - Business Meeting -Station 14 1900 (Dinner 1800)

· October 26 - Wicked 10K - Oceanfront0600-1200

UniformHours

· October 9 - 1600 - 1700

· October 14 - 1730 - 1830

· October 20 - 1000 - 1100

Chief's CornerDear VBVRS Members,As the summer comes to a close and we roll into fall, I want to take this opportunity to thank youfor all your hard work. Here’s just a few things we’ve done so far this year and your support forthese events is greatly appreciated.Polar Plunge Shamrock MarathonEast Coast Surfing Championships Rock 'N Roll 1/2 MarathonOyster Roast Allen Stone Run-Swim-RunPatriotic Festival Labor Day FestivitiesSpring Fund Drive 4th of July Staffing

As things cool off around the city, I would like to remind you to continue to be safety minded.We’ve recently had some ambulances need repair due to some unfortunate incidences. So,remember to always use a backer, avoid tight parking spaces if possible and be aware of yoursurroundings when driving the ambulances.

The re-chassis of 1424 and 1423 is complete. 1421 is in Ohio and is a work in progress. 1424is currently on duty at station 8. 1423 should be ready for duty at station 14 shortly. Pleaseprovide feedback when using these units.

Thank you,Chief White

Rockin' N' Rollin'On September 2, our members came out in droves for our biggest stand by of theyear - the Rock 'N Roll 1/2 Marathon! Thank you to all who volunteered. Fromthe top left moving clockwise - Trevor Lee, Eric Bonney and David Whitley cover thefinish line; VBVRS members of the bike team stand ready; The scene at the startjust behind Station 14; Whitney Andre, Judy Jackson and Kyle Padgett pause forpicture; at the race debrief (Pictures from Trevor Lee, Eric Bonney, Ellen McBride)

Virginia Gilpin, Past Captain andLife Member- When did you join VBVRS?

I joined in January of 1973 - I had some sparetime, and this seemed like something I wouldenjoy.

- Thoughts on being among the first femalemembers and becoming Captain?

There were women before who set the standard,and we were needed for coverage gaps during thedaytime. The other first women were nurses sovery good with patients, so I had to adjust

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad - Page 2

It can happen to you & your crew- by Pete Seidler

Member Spotlight

The new MCI response bus affiliated withVBGH - Photo by Bobby Hill

Tuesday, June 15, 2010:WASHINGTON, DC - A Metro bus crash onsouthbound I-395 in the District has sent somepassengers to the hospital and snarled trafficduring Tuesday morning’s rush hour. (http://www.jems.com/article/news/22-involved-washington-dc-bus) …change a few facts…make it an HRT bus on Eastbound I264 inVirginia Beach….not so remote a possibility….

Mass or multiple casualty? Very likely! Couldyou be first on-scene? Absolutely! Know whatto do? Probably...but when was the last timeyou looked at the local Mass Casualty Plan?Yes, it’s in the bright yellow pamphlet in theunit (you did see it when you checked off thetruck, right?), but when did you last open it andactually read it?.

Just as a reminder, if you are first on scene ata possible mass or multiple casualty incident,remember the FIVE Ss. First, establishCOMMAND on the EMS channel ("This is1424R, and I will be establishing I-264Command") then:

! SAFETY: Assess the scene for safety.Any downed power lines? Unstable vehicle (i.e.on its side)? Any chemical hazards?! SIZE-UP: How big and how bad is it?

Make a rough estimate of the number ofpatients - under or over 10 or 50? Think you'llneed additional ambulances?! SEND information: Contact dispatch with

your size-up information and declare it aMultiple or Mass Casualty Incident.

! SET UP the scene for management ofthe casualties.! START (Simple Triage and Rapid

Treatment) and JumpSTART (for pediatricpatients) - check your protocol guides formore information, but the most importantpiece here is to triage the critical (unstablevital signs, but breathing) from the leastaffected ("walking wounded").

The Hampton Roads Mass CasualtyIncident Response Plan was updated in2013, but the 2011 version of the pocketguide is still good. The MCI plan includes MCIJob Checklists that incorporate IncidentCommand System forms and tacticalworksheets. In addition, the MCI Guide alsoincludes the current START triage algorithms,updated guidelines for the emergencymanagement of contaminated patients,revised directions to hospitals, anemergency communications directory,updated MCI resources list, and more.

You can find more info including the updated2013 Incident Response Plan at:www.tidewaterems.org

In the meantime, it’s not a bad idea to takesome down time when on duty to take a quicklook at the yellow MCI pamphlet...just in case!

A Big Thanks to All Members!PRINTING GLADLYDONATED BYVIRGINIA BEACH PRINTINGYOUR LOCAL PRINTERFOR OVER 50 YEARS.

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to meet that high expectation. They say that if youcommunicate effectively and listen patiently, thenpeople will notice you - I did nothing special butwhen a leadership position opened up, next thingI knew I was asked to take the position.

- Interesting anecdotes from back then?

Initially, women weren't allowed to run at nightand we were restricted to 6 hour shits so wewouldn't get overtired - this was the 1970s! Thatchanged during David Whitley's administrationwhen he and several influential members pushedto allow women to run full shifts and even runnight duties. This was quite controversial at thetime, and many members threatened to quit atthat time although none to my knowledge did.

- What do you think are the biggestaccomplishments of VBVRS during your tenurehere?

To see the dynamic growth of the squad over theyears have been incredible. We had a small, oldstation back when I started and now we have twobeautiful and independent stations that we enjoy.

- What are some of the biggest differences fromwhen you started and today?

There was no EMS office when I started andeach squad handled its own personnel andequipment. The squads are now much moreunified. The vehicles are probably the biggestchange - I'm a Cadillac girl and they were smoothrides, but they had very, very little space in theback to do patient care and it was alwayscramped in the back. You should ask CharlieGurley about transporting cardiac arrest in thosemachines - it was uncomfortable with more thantwo people.

Metoprolol (Lopressor)How it works - Metoprolol (and other drugsending in "-olol") is a beta-blocker. Simplyput, this drug blocks the "fight or flight" (akasympathetic) response on the heart todecrease stress on the heart muscle andprevent it from working so hard. The majoreffects on the body are a combined loweredheart rate and blood pressure.

Indications - Its major use is in hypertension(high blood pressure), particularly in those

individuals who have comorbid tachycardia.It is also used in various forms of elevatedheart rate, after heart attacks/heart failureand even refractory cases of social anxietyand performance anxiety disorder.

Contraindications - Because of its specificeffects, caution is advised in patients thatabuse drugs - particularly cocaine as it canprecipitate heart attacks. It can alsoexcacerbate severe asthmatics since theyrely on beta-2 activity (think albuterolnebulizers!).

Side Effects - What happens when you lowerheart rate or blood pressure too much? Yougot it - syncope. This particularly an issue inpeople who are just starting Metoprololtherapy. It can also cause dizziness and evendepression or decreased mood due to itseffect on flight-or-flight. There are many,many other side-effects not worth listing here,so be vigilant!

What it means for EMS - Take it fromsomeone who works in a hospital - these

patients almost always have lower or "morenormal" heart rates than you would expect -some have resting rates in the 40s. This isimportant in hypovolemia and shock, sinceone of the earliest signs is tachycardia - thisresponse is blunted in patients and thuspredisposes them to syncope and comaduring acute illnesses. Be sure to alwaysevalute the entire patient - vital signs are onlypart of the assessment!

Overdose Concerns - Overdose from beta-blockers presents with low heart rate, alteredmental status and possibly coma or breathingdifficulty. Early transport is crucial, and try todetermine which exact drug is the cause. Foryou ALS folks - simple IV fluid and Atropine forsymptomatic bradycardia is indicated, andcontact medical control.

Do you have a special request for a drug toappear in the monthly "In the MedicineCabinent" column? E-mailnewsletter@vbvrs.com with your request!

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad - Page 3

In the Medicine Cabinet - by Cliff Cutchins, MD

Officer Notes! We have had many requests for service lately which is wonderful exposure and PR for our squad, and thank you to all members who have

stepped up to man these events. Remember many of these events generate a donation to us! As a reminder, all requests for crews orambulances/cart/etc need to go through the City at 385-1999, ask for Carrie Lavelle. This is important since some of these events are not in ourfirst due area.

! Charlton Hall (Station 14) and Langston Hall (Station 8) are available as meeting space for community organizations - contact ourwonderful Office Manager Mary-Ellen McLean to reserve a time.

! Please do your best to not lend equipment (backboards, straps, KEDs) to VBFD or leave them at a hospital as we have had some gomissing - sometimes this is unavoidable, however, so please list loaned items on the whiteboards in the equipment room or e-mailequipment.lt@vbvrs.com. Please do not lend any supplies to VB Lifesaving Service as they are a contracted agency with their own equipment.

! Radios - for years we continue to have major issues with them going missing, please remember they are the city's property paid for by thecitizens and visitors of VB. Being down a radio is a SAFETY issue for us providers in an emergency, so please remember to return them if youaccidentally take one home (Editor's note: I have done this many times, just return it ASAP).

Just because the summer may beover doesn't mean the work is overfor our members! To the left, MikeRogers helps inventory theambulances for annual stateinspection and to the right,Melinda Lackore and Erin McCartygo for photographic art while onduty (pictures by Ellen McBride andErin McCarty)

Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad740 Virginia Beach BoulevardVirginia Beach, Virginia 23451 Tel: 757-437-4830www.vbvrs.comRoy White, Chief and President - Chief@vbvrs.comCliff Cutchins MD, Newsletter Editor - Newsletter@vbvrs.com

International Pride and Excellence

VBVRS was recently visited by a special delegation from numerous "sister cities" around the globe - specialthanks to Taneta McCaw and Bobby Hill for organizing! Clockwise from left - Medic Patti Singleton and PlazaVRS member Jerry Sams demonstrate the LUCAS device; Dale Drescher and Brad Sauer take one of ourguests for a ride on the stretcher; Mike Rydberg shows off our squad truck; MRT and Rich Maguire give anorientation to their gear; Bobby Hill explaining the volunteer system (pictures courtesy Ellen McBride).

Member ShoutoutsDo you have a shoutout to share? E-mail newsletter@vbvrs.com to give someone the credit they deserve!

! To Dave Mathews, Jim Cromwell, Mike Rogers, Roy White, Ron Bauman, Chaz Lowery, Sasha Ernest, Glen Martin and Leslie Smith - thankyou all for helping to clean and completely check off our units for inventory.

! To Matt Verdicchio, Troy Gaudino and Dave Mathews for spending their entire morning scrubbing the bay floor inpreparation for the SisterCities International Visit.

! For all of those who helped to make our German colleagues welcome at the international visit, especially Taneta McCaw and Bobby Hill fororganizing - Anty Tobias, Rachel Hux, Barbara Moore and Brad Sauer for cooking and cleaning, Vicky Sims for providing a "German connection,"Emily Mills and Travis Smith for cleanup and finally Ann Morse and Rick Flack for coordinating a much-raved about MRT ridealong.

! To Bobby Hill, Trevor Lee and Eric Bonney for being such photographers and sharing their photos with us.

! To Lynne Contreras and Trevor Lee for filling in for a sick member at the very last minute - you all rock!

! To Krystal Holland for continuing to be a great member while going through the Chesapeake Police academy. Keep it up!