VTEMSD#3 Training Committee Minutes for 12 July, 2001

Chair Greg Thweatt called the meeting to order at 1830 hours. 19 people were in attendance representing 5 District posts and 13 out of 23 services. Those in attendance were:

• Pat Malone EMT - B Coordinator
• Greg Thweatt EMT - I Coordinator, Training Committee Chair
• Debbie Baron District Board Chair
• Maureen Leahy District Board Vice Chair
• Jim Laskarzewski Training Committee Clerk, St. Michael’s (A)
• Gilbert Helmken (R) FAHC E.D. Nursing
• Kevin Williams (R) Burlington Fire Department
• Becca Webb (R) Charlotte Rescue
• Scott Flieger (A) Colchester Rescue
• Adam Wilson (R) Colchester Rescue
• Jim Kellogg (A) Essex Junction Fire Dept.
• Stacey Dudley (R) Essex Rescue
• Debbie Baron (R) Grand Isle Rescue
• Tanner Trombly (R) Malletts Bay Fire Department
• Erin Golec (R) Richmond Rescue
• John Poulin (R) Shelburne Rescue
• Maureen Leahy (A) So. Burlington Fire Department
• Robby Rix (R) UVM Rescue
• Allison Rimmer (R) Vergennes Rescue
• Stephen Fleming (A) Vergennes Rescue
• Kevin Wood (R) Williston Rescue

Adam Wilson introduced himself as the new training officer of Colchester Rescue.

Review Agenda: The chair briefly reviewed the agenda for the meeting.

Motion to accept minutes of June 14, 2001 meeting by John, second by Jim Kellogg . Motion passed.

Next meeting will be held on Aug 9, 2001 at 1830 hours at St. Michael’s College.

Approved Courses:

Charlotte ECA: Starts next month.

EMT-B Spring: Those needing to retest traveled to Newport. Had 5 fail written.

EMT-B Summer: Course just ended. Sixteen started, 16 finished, all passed the practicals, waiting on written results.

EMT-B Fall: Not filled yet. Only 10 applications in hand. Training officers should follow up with members to ensure they have sent in their applications. Ensure applicants have appropriate CPR certification. Pat’s new work address is: IREMS, 665 Spear St., Burlington, VT 05405. Question: Is AED still being taught in the basic class in light of the new CPR standards? Yes, but not as much time may need to be spent on the subject. The same holds for bag-valve-mask.

EMT-I: Two took practical retest and pass ed from spring, 3 retest written, no results yet. Tara has a new job that will impact her involvement in the fall course. Maureen Leahy has offered to assist. Twenty applications so far with 5 pending receipt of "happy letter".

FAHC Case Review: July 17th at Burgess at 1900 hrs. Call review plus dispensing epinephrine from ampules, pending medical direction approval. In service training in squads at a later date. This delivery mode for epinephrine is an option for intermediates; basics will still use epi-pens.

Intubation check-off to be rescheduled for September.

Telemedicine: Beginning August 23rd , these sessions will be on the 4th Thursday of every month at 1900 hrs at IREMS on Spear St. Pat hopes to have a yearlong schedule posted. He also reiterated that this is a great way to get CE credit. Please RSVP to Pat as there is limited seating. August 23rd topic will be posted to the listserver.

Alternative schedule for EMT-B course: Keith Robinson would like to coordinate a class with a different schedule. Two ideas have been discussed. The first is one night a week for about 9 months; the second is a course similar to the summer course. Comments can be directed to Keith or Pat. Either option may reach more people with kids or job constraints. Question: Will a lengthy class affect skill/knowledge retention? Practice needs to happen in the services. Similar lengthy class in the past found students losing interest in March. Pat has found great success with the condensed course. Greg has found very little response from services when asked about potential course schedules. Keith is considering schedule with college students in mind. A condensed course (every other weekend) staring in mid November with a break before the December exams. Course would pick-up again in January and end in Feb. or March. This schedule may also work well for some non-traditional students.

Modules: Chris and Kate are tentatively proposing a course for late fall (mod 1) and early spring (mod 2).

Future topics for discussion: Greg would like a list of topics that training officers find interesting for possible presentation at future meetings, as time allows. Some of the ideas presented at the meeting were: planning for training sessions; documenting trainings; retention of members in light of the variety of cert. levels; variety in training sessions to make them more interesting; local resources outside of D3EMS (dhart, sign language); crew chief training; PEPP; EVOC; recertification paperwork session.
CPR instructor trainer session tentatively scheduled for August at Colchester.
Ideas sought to combat monotony of OSHA classes (infection control): Enlist aid of local nurse, review actual cases, create scenarios involving exposure and play out through all reporting stages, enlist aid of exposure control officer from local care business (nursing home, immediate care), decon videos.
Practical hands-on training works very well with EMS providers, we prefer to keep moving rather than sit and listen.  Greg will put together a list/schedule of topics to cover in upcoming meetings.

CPR – Changes in AHA guidelines: Becca to send comparison chart to the listserver. Greater number of courses now available, all are video based training. AED, BVM, and crichoid pressure are now part of professional rescuer course however, if the person does not hold appropriate certification they cannot use those skills (e.g. AED = EMT-B). August 18th, Charlotte will have a CPR course in the early morning, preference goes to those enrolled in their upcoming ECA course – contact Becca.

Motion to adjourn by Maureen, second by Becca. Meeting adjourned at 1930 hours.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Laskarzewski, clerk

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Last updated: July 18, 2001