First Responders on duty soon
By Jo Zulkowsky
IVCC has trained 14 people to respond to medical emergencies on campus and should have them equipped and on duty by the end of the semester.
This First Responder Team, the first at a junior college, was scheduled to be ready by the end of September, but purchase of a radio system for the team to use has been delayed.
Ron Groleau, team member and chair of the science and math division, said the team’s function will be "to respond to medical emergencies, to assist and stabilize patients until the ambulance arrives."
Groleau explained that the college does not have the funds to employ a full-time nurse. In the past medical emergencies have been referred to the nursing staff when they are not in class.
When the First Responders are in place, each of the team members will carry a two-way radio. When a medical emergency occurs, a faculty or staff member can activate the First Responder system which will reach team members through the radios.
Contact with the team could also be made by notifying the person on duty at the switchboard in the main lobby, or through emergency phones in elevators, on the third floor of each building and in the parking lots.
When the First Responders answer an emergency call, they will be wearing blue vests and a name badge, and they will have basic medical supplies. The college has purchased supplies and equipment which Groleau identified as "state of the art."
As one example, Groleau said since children are also on campus, the college has purchased neck collars and backboards for children as well as adults.
Other equipment available to the team includes a Heartstart 911 AED Defibrillator for use with cardiac arrest victims, an obstetrics kit for pregnant women, two portable oxygen tanks, fireproof blankets, and basic bandages.
After the First Responders are notified, an ambulance will be called from Oglesby and the patient will be taken to IVCHospital in Peru.
Once the radio system is in place, the team is ready to go.
Team member Joann Corrigan said, "We are anxious to get up and going. We don’t want to have to do it, but help is available if needed. We will be prepared for emergencies if and when they come up."
The team prepared by taking A-H 220 which taught them basic human anatomy, CPR, splinting techniques and use of a defibrillator. John Murphy, an Emergency Medical Technician for over 20 years taught the class.
After each volunteer passed the class, they were certified by the Health Department under the Emergency Medical Response section. The First Responders are also part of Peru’s volunteer EMT’s.
Besides Groleau and Corrigan, the volunteer First Responders are Mike Barry, safety services; Jeff Carver, assistant to laboratory instruction; Sherry Day, assistant to laboratory instruction, Mary Jo Gruenwald, computer programmer, Lee Ann Johnson, assistant to laboratory instruction; Tony Ruda, Fitness Center director; Mike Rugen, physical plant, Ken Sangston, safety services director; Gerilynn Schultz, division secretary; Chris Smith, student representative to the board of trustees; Dennis Summers, physical plant, and Mary Tully, Adult Learning Center grant secretary.
"I am impressed how the staff and faculty volunteered out of the goodness of their heart," Groleau said. "I am proud of the people involved; they worked hard to provide an important service to the college."
Anyone interested in being a First Responder should contact Groleau at ext. 482 or in his office, A-216.
Sept 17, 1998 the Apache