VTEMSD#3 Training Committee Agenda – 13 December,2001

The chair, Greg Thweatt called the meeting to order at 1832 hours. 18 people were in attendance representing 6 District posts and 12 out of 24 services. Those in attendance were:

• Pat Malone EMT - B Coordinator
• Greg Thweatt EMT-I Coordinator, 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, Nursing
• Kevin Williams (R) Burlington Fire Department
• Becca Webb (R) Charlotte Rescue
• Adam Wilson (R) Colchester Rescue
• Scott Flieger (A) Colchester Rescue
• Jim Kellogg (A) Essex Junction Fire Dept
• Stacey Dudley (R) Essex Rescue
• Debbie Baron (R) Grand Isle Rescue
• Kathy Karg (R) Hinesburg Fire Department
• Al Barber (A) Hinesburg Fire Department
• Stephan Mattison (A) Malletts Bay Fire Department
• Erin Golec (R) Richmond Rescue
• Maureen Leahy (A) So. Burlington Fire Department
• Shawna Lapierre (R) St. Michael’s Rescue
• Kevin Wood (R) Williston Rescue

None

The Chair Briefly reviewed the agenda

Motion to accept minutes of Nov. 8, 2001 meeting by K. Williams, second by Al. Motion passed.

Greg thanked Maureen for running the last meeting.

Next meeting will be held on Jan. 10th, 2002 at 1830 hours at St. Michael’s College.

Approved Courses:

• First Responder Courses: Charlotte and Vergennes testing: 31 students tested. 8 failed a trauma station, 2 the CPR station, 5 the bleeding station; retest scheduled for Monday. 2 retests from Malletts Bay class passed.
• EMT-B (Mon & Wed) – (Pat M.) – Results from last night’s testing included 12 station failures, this is an increase from previous tests. Eight people failed at the "random station" which was bleeding/shock & long bone immobilization. Retest will be scheduled. Written was Monday, class average was close to 90%. Many students complained about the written Registry exam. Testing went well, all done in three hours.
• EMT-B (Tues only) Exam is tonight then they are off until next year, 17 students.
• EMT-I – 22 students tested, no practical failures, 3 written failures.

Next Basic and Intermediate courses start on January 16th. Spaces will be open to non-district applicants after this meeting. Nine applicants from District #3 for I-class, a few from the recent Basic course on the wait list.

Pat M. – Registering for Courses – 6-8 slots left in basic course. Applications need payment or commitment for payment plus copy of CPR card. Commitment means PO # or note from service with service director signature. Need to have both payment and card.

Gil would like feedback about clinical observation times in order to improve the program. Pat relayed that many enjoyed their time and wanted to go back.

Greg has received calls from people concerned the EMT-I course would be stopped. There is no intention of stopping the course, course will continue. If there is going to be a summer course it will not be coordinated by Greg. Summer courses are tough to put together due to schedules. If there is a need then something can be worked out.

Refresher Course: January course schedule distributed again. Deadline to register is January meeting. Register with Pat. Course coordinator is Kate Soons. Dates: Jan 15th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, and 29th. $95.00. Pat has approx. 6 applications, need a minimum of 12. October class was cancelled due to poor attendance.

FAHC Case Review: January 15th ,Advanced Airway, at IREMS facility at 665 Spear St ("Bio-research complex" on sign). Group asked for topic ideas. Doctors are willing to teach anything, call Karg with ideas. Pat M. reports the Dec. review was really good; Doctor Elliot did a great job. Suggestion made to pull topics from CE sheet.

Instructor course (Jan 19th & 20th, Feb 16th & 17th, Mar 16th & 17th) See new business.

Brian Longe at Essex Rescue, 878-4859 – Emergency response to terrorism, EMS tactical Operations, Jan12-13 from 0800-1600 hrs, no cost. K. Williams adds there is another course at ERS as well, the dates are unclear, suggest contacting Brian.

Hardwick Kiwanis, 472-5081 – Pediatric trauma Management, March 16th in Hardwick.

Becca reports Jason Covey, jcovey@town.middlebury.vt.us , 388-3191, is available to teach a class on crime scenes and EMS. He has a 1 ½ to 2 hour PowerPoint presentation that is very good, he is willing to travel.

Old Business:

Paid Coordinator for recertification exams (Pat M.): According to the State, the District has the authority to charge for services. Propose we hire someone to coordinate each spring and fall set of exams and pay for expenses (coordinator, food). Replace funds by charging each person recertifying $5.00. Expenses for one night last October were $150.00 for food and 40 man-hours. Estimate for February is $800 for each set of two nights. Adam asks if paying someone brings in "employer" considerations and the IRS. Pat says the district has paid honorariums for years; this would fit into that mold. Adam fears paid person would cause others to not volunteer. K. Williams suggests each service coordinate one test session then move to the next service, this would mean a service would come up every few years as coordinator. Suggestion was made that each service send evaluators to test based upon the number of people recertifying. Becca points out this could hurt a small service; they would run out of people to staff the ambulance.  One person needs to be responsible, this may be difficult for someone who has never done or may never do again, big potential for consistency problems. If the district is unable to pay a coordinator then other options will need to be worked. Remember approx. 100 people test each session, must be careful that experiments do not take away from event. No interest expressed to take over position.  Motion by Pat M. that the district approve the position of recertification exam coordinator to be paid for by charging $5.00 to each recert candidate, second by Debbie. Maureen asked if the ambulance dues could pay for this. K. Williams says BFD will be sending people out of district to recert if this passes; he is opposed because of the expense his department would incur. Greg suggests this issue be discussed at the board meeting and also ask how finances at district level are set. Maureen questions amount of money the district has and suggests the district can pay the coordinator. Greg adds regardless of the vote, this will come up at the board meeting. Discussion called. Motion passes with 4 nays.

First Responder to EMT modules: Chris McCarthy will be proposing modules 1 & 2 to be starting Feb 18th. Module 1 – Feb 18th, 25th, Mar 4th. Module 2 – Mar 11th, 18th, 25th, Apr 1st. Testing on April 8th. Held at Charlotte, Mondays 6:30-9:30, $45.00 per person for both modules. Formal proposal next month. Need to clarify cost.

Instructor Course sponsored candidates: 2 individuals have applied, Becca Webb and Dave Roberts from BFD. Letters of intent and reference distributed for review. District can sponsor one person and if there are openings a second person can attend. We need to choose a primary and alternate. Pat clarifies each district is guaranteed one slot and if slot is not used it goes to district demonstrating most need for instructors. Course costs $495.00. Motion by Pat to recommend to the board to support Becca Webb to the course with Dave Roberts as alternate, Debbie second. Motion passes with one abstention.
Motion by Pat that committee recommends the district fund both applicants if spots are available, second by Maureen. Motion passed

Course Proposals

Wilderness Module for EMT course out of SOLO will be happening in January, course is almost filled. Need to have course approved as a refresher so participants can use CE credits. Motion to accept course as refresher by Maureen, second by K. Wood. Course to be held at farm on Spear St., some slots still available, $200.00, weekends of Jan 4th and Jan 11th, Friday eve and all days Sat and Sun. Motion passed.

Daytime EMT course for Air Guard members and other military including ATF and Coast Guard. Jan 7th through Feb 25th, exam not scheduled yet, at Air Guard station. $395.00 Mon and Wed all day, 0830 – 1630, there are openings. Motion by Maureen to accept course as presented, second by Al. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 1935 hours.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Laskarzewski, clerk

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Last updated: January 07, 2002