A publication of the Arkansas EMT Association

The Midwest First Responder Conference is a three day event produced by the Eureka Springs Fire Department and hosted by the Eureka Springs Conference Center at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks.  The objective of the conference is to provide fun, fellowship, and learning opportunities to the dedicated volunteer and career EMS & fire responders.

Keith Edmonds, AEMTA President

As I enter into the final few days of my term as your President of this great Association of professionals, I have taken the time to reflect on some changes that have occurred over the past 2 years as well as some of the directions in which we are heading.

I have never been so proud of our profession as I am today. We have come along way since I entered this business in 1980 and it is because of you, the Arkansas EMS Professional, that these changes have happened. We as a profession, have stood strong over the years asking for changes that we encounter daily that affects the patients we care for. We have drastically improved the profession in the eyes of others across the state and are now recognized as the licensed professional we have all wanted.

It is because of the membership of this Association that has dreamed of seeing changes and speaking up to the Board of Directors that these changes have occurred and will continue to occur for years to come. We have gone from the complacent and compliant professional to a voice that has been heard and recognized and is ready to respond at a moments notice with very little questions asked. We are a strong family that is bound together with one common goal: Patient Care!! For this, I applaud each of you!

Read the full article

Several communities in Marion County are receiving an upgrade in the response for their medical needs. North Arkansas Regional Medical Center – Emergency Medical Services in conjunction with the Flippin Fire Department and the Marion County Fire Chiefs’ Association are sponsoring an Emergency Medical Technician course for 20 students from across Marion County. These students are all members of local fire departments and have been providing life saving measures prior to the arrival of an ambulance for several years as first responders. These students are undergoing 160+ hours of training to ensure that their neighbors receive the best care available prior to transport by an ambulance to the hospital of their choice.

The EMT course is being instructed by Brian Coffman, Paramedic/Supervisor with NARMC EMS, Brian Unruh, Paramedic/EMS Director with NARMC EMS and Telicia Wade-Perry, Paramedic with Flippin Fire Department. These instructors have many years of classroom training and have an almost perfect pass ratio of the students they have trained over the past years.

Read the full article

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officers and active members of the Arkansas Instructor’s Society for their undying desire to improve skills for all instructors throughout Arkansas.  This group of officers has worked diligently to recognize the needs of every instructor in Arkansas an address most of their concerns.  Also, this group has really made my trip as president of the Arkansas Instructor’s Society a very enjoyable journey.  It has been my honor to serve as your president.  Can’t believe I have just one more year remaining.

Read the full article

I want to wish all my EMS family a Happy New Year, and I hope that we as a EMS family can make 2011 shine. For those of you that were unable to make it to the 2010 state EMS conference, you missed a great time with our family and some good educational classes.

In 2009, Dwayne Aalseth was elected as a state officer and had to resign as the Medical Responder (First Responder) president, and I was given the chance to finish out his year as president. I enjoyed it and learned alot that our Society does that people are not even aware of. At the Society meeting at conference I was elected to served as the new president for the next 2 year term, and I want to say a special thanks to all in that meeting that elected me to this position. Thanks for having the faith in me to do this society a good job, and I will put my all into my position.

Read the full article

Shift Captain Rob Douthit shows Madison County EMS’ two new notebook computers.

A recent grant has given Madison County EMS an opportunity to upgrade its technology. The service recently received a regional trauma grant from the Arkansas Department of Health. Part of the grant money was used to purchase two refurbished Panasonic Toughbook notebook computers. The notebooks are used in the field to gather patient information and to create patient reports for the hospitals and for the state. The Toughbooks also have a unique feature which allows signatures to be written on the screen and captured in memory for reports.

In addition to reports, Madison County EMS plans to use the notebooks as a reference library. Programs for emergency procedures, medication information, medical protocols, and hazardous materials will soon be added.

The same grant is also benefiting Madion County’s EMS responders. Emergency Medical Responders, or EMRs for short, respond to emergencies in their community and provide basic emergency medical care until the ambulance arrives. Through the grant MCEMS has purchased immobilization equipment for use by the responders. The equipment is used by the EMRs to treat car wreck patients and trauma victims. The used equipment is swapped for a new set by the responding ambulance. MCEMS is hosting a training class on the new immobilization equipment in February.