Every time the dispatch tones alert, we do not know if we are responding to an elderly person who fell, an adult having a heart attack, or a small child hit by a car. At Cooper Landing Emergency Services, we have to be prepared to manage patients across the lifespan from newborn infants to the elderly, regardless of age. We MUST have the necessary equipment and training to provide the highest level of care possible. Thanks to the generous donations from our community members & businesses, we have been able to invest in several pieces of critical equipment and technology that truly enhances the overall care we provide to our patients.
First, the Handtevy system is a game changer for our volunteer EMS providers when treating children of any age. This system uses a combination of a cell phone application in conjunction with a color-coded equipment organizing system that enables the provider to rapidly select the appropriately sized equipment and exact drug dosages for any infant/child regardless of age or weight. Using color-coded bags and a age-based scale, our EMS providers can quickly identify the appropriate colored bag that contains all of the critical equipment needed to handle any aged child in time sensitive emergencies.
The Handtevy application allows the provider to enter either the patient’s age or weight & the exact drug dosages for every emergency drug show up on the screen. In critical emergencies, this information eliminates the need for complex calculations when time is of the essence. It reduces the potential for medication errors and truly enhances our overall patient care. One of our Handtevy system kits was made possible through a mini grant from the Seward Community Foundation.
Clay Adam, Deputy Chief, EMS, Cooper Landing Emergency Services
For the opposite end of the age spectrum, CLES has been able to purchase Binder lifts. These are vest-like devices that can be applied to any patient who might have fallen out of bed or slipped on the bathroom floor & need assistance getting into a chair or back to bed. It is very easy to apply and is adaptable to any size patient up to 500 pounds. By having such a versatile piece of equipment, it eliminates the need for multiple sizes and is very easy to apply to any patient. The device contains multiple handles which allows our providers to lift the patient from a central location rather than trying to lift arms and legs and potentially injuring the patient.
At CLES we continually strive to provide the highest level of patient care. It is only through the generosity of our community members and their donations that we can purchase such equipment. We want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support to CLES. If you have any questions about donations to CLES, please contact us at 907-595-1800, via email at operations.cles@arctic.net or visit us at 38748 Snug Harbor Road in Cooper Landing.
