Have a medical emergency? Call IVCC's First Responder Team.
Beginning Sept. 13, the First Responder Team will be on call. Their function will be to assist and stabilize a person in need of medical assistance until emergency medical technician help arrives from the Oglesby Ambulance Service.
In an emergency, the team can be activated in a number of ways:
Dial 600, the college emergency phone number
Go to the switchboard operator
Use an emergency phone in any elevator
Use the "area of rescue assistance" call boxes on the third floor of buildings A, B, C, D and E
Use the emergency call boxes in parking lots 1, 2 and 5 and the turn-around in front of the main entrance to the college, or the call boxes on the walkway to the east campus and by the driveway to the Agriculture building on the east campus.
Ron Groleau, First Responder coordinator, said anyone calling should give their location and the nature of the medical emergency.
When the First Responders answer a 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."
Equipment includes a Heartstart 911 Defibrillator for use with cardiac arrest victims, an obstetrics kit and oxygen tanks.
As soon as the First Responders are notified of an emergency, the Oglesby Ambulance Service will be called, and the patient will be taken to IVCH in Peru.
The First Responder Team started preparing last year by taking A-H 220 which taught them basic human anatomy, CPR, splinting techniques and use of a defibrillator, among other things. John Murphy, an Emergency Medical Technician for over 20 years, taught the class. IVCC's team is certified by the Health Department under the Emergency Medical Response section.
Besides Groleau, the First Responders are: Mike Barry, safety services; Jeff Carver, assistant to laboratory instruction; Jo Ann Corrigan, division secretary; 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 Smith, division secretary; Chris Smith, student; Dennis Summers, physical plant; and Mary Tully, Adult Learning Center grant secretary.
"These caring college employees have gone through extensive training to become First Responders," Groleau said. "They are volunteering their services to help people in need."
Anyone interested in becoming a First Responder should contact Groleau at ext. 482.