First Responders mark five-year anniversary
By Jacob Wise
IV Leader Staff, Dec. 9, 2004
Medical accidents occur everyday, but at IVCC, students and faculty are in good hands due to the service of the college’s First Responders.
The First Responders are entering their fifth year as the campus’ emergency response team. They have been most notably recognized for their outstanding performance last summer in providing lifesaving medical care to a student struck by lighting.
According to Ron Groleau, dean of natural sciences and business, the First Responders average about one call per week. “This means that we have responded to more than 250 calls in our five-year existence,” Groleau added.
“It is interesting to note that our first call came 20 minutes after we officially went on duty Sept. 13, 1999,” Groleau said describing their first day of duty at IVCC.
Groleau explained that before The First Responders formed, people in need of emergency medical assistance had to wait for the Oglesby Ambulance Service to arrive. “In most situations, this is no longer the case,” he said. “Help is on the way in a matter of seconds. It could, and already has saved a life.”
Students and faculty need to dial 911 or call the front desk in the case of a medical emergency and First Responders will respond immediately to the call. Currently, the team has state of the art equipment at its disposal.
Groleau described the equipment as being external defibrillators distributed throughout various areas around campus.
Mike Barry of Safety Services detailed the training involved in becoming a First Responder. Individuals need to take the First Responder course offered by the Health Professions Department. In this class, students are trained to operate defibrillators and to use oxygen. In addition, students are instructed on how to properly immobilize patients and how to distinguish the signs of what could be wrong in order to relay information to on scene ambulance personnel.
Upon completion of this course participants receive a license from the Illinois Department of Public Health. With this license participants are eligible to volunteer with The First Responders.
Barry said, “We are helping people out and that is our main objective and what we are here for. I think we are doing a good job.”
Groleau credits the success of the program to the hard work of its volunteers. “We have responded to everything from cut fingers, seizures, automobile accidents, and a lightning strike,” Groleau said regarding the service provided by the First Responders.
“The quick action of the team saved the life of a student whose breathing had stopped after being struck by lightning,” Groleau said.
Speed is the most important factor to the First Responders. “People know we are just seconds away,” Groleau explained.
Groleau mentioned that IVCC is the first community college in Illinois to have this program. Funding for the program comes from the college’s Tort liability fund. The First Responders have already received prestige for their dedicated service to IVCC. On November 2000, The First Responders were awarded the Innovation Award by the Illinois Council of Community College Administrators.
However, Groleau sees challenges in the future for the program. There are currently eleven members on the team and according to Groleau, days are not a problem but evenings can be challenging. “I am always interested in recruiting new members,” added Groleau.
Members of the team include: Mike Barry and Ken Sangston, Safety Services; Jeff Carver and LeeAnn Johnson, faculty; JoAnn Corrigan, Tony Ruda, Mary Jo Freeman, Mary Tully, Dick Vicich, Mike Rugen, staff; and Ron Groleau, administration.
Anyone interested in becoming a First Responder should contact Ron Groleau at 224-0482 or ron_groleau@ivcc.edu. Participants should have a current license from the Illinois Department of Health and go through the application process which includes reference checks.
Groleau hopes to formally honor his teammates at the beginning of the spring semester but the details have not been finalized. He plans to discuss this proposal with the team at their next luncheon meeting.