Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — October 7, 2011 —    MedStar is proud to announce that Associate Director of Human Resources, Danyelle Keenan, SPHR has been selected by the HRSouthwest Conference to receive the 2011 HR Educator of the Year award. 

Each year, the HRSouthwest Conference recognizes an individual educator who has made significant contributions to the education of former, current, or prospective HR professionals. Keenan will be honored with the HR Educator of the Year award during the keynote presentation of the conference and will receive a commemorative award, $1,000 grant and complimentary conference registration.

The HRSouthwest Conference, 2011

Fort Worth Convention Center

Tuesday, November 1

8:15 am – HR Educator of the Year award presentation

Keenan was chosen to receive the HR Educator of the Year award to honor achievements throughout her career in the areas of advocacy, publications and professional and community activities.

In addition to her role at MedStar, she also serves on the UT Arlington Advisory Council for the Master’s in Human Resource Management program and has her own consulting business assisting small organizations with their HR needs.  She has been a member of the Fort Worth Human Resource Management Association (FWHRMA), SHRM Chapter for 12 years, is currently serving her third term on the FWHRMA Board of Directors and has been elected as the organization’s President for 2012.  

Driven by a passion for adult education, Keenan is an experienced trainer and instructor striving not only to educate but also to instill enthusiasm and energy into the subject matter.  She has been an adjunct professor for management and business courses at a variety of area schools, including DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management, Tarrant County College, UT Arlington and Texas Wesleyan University.  For the past five years, she has been an instructor for Professional and Senior Professional in Human Resources (PHR / SPHR) certification classes and is an advocate for lifelong learning.

Keenan earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M University and holds a Master’s of Science from UT Arlington in Human Resources Management.  She has been a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) since 2001.  She lives in Fort Worth with her husband and young son.

The HRSouthwest Conference (HRSWC) is the largest regional human resources conference in the country.  It offers over 90 educational sessions and is committed to supporting the human resource professional and advancing the human resource profession. It is the official State of Texas SHRM Conference and it attracts over 2,300 HR professionals and over 200 exhibitors.  More information at www.hrsouthwest.com.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors, is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services and is named the 2010 Texas EMS Provider of the Year by the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

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Fort Worth, TX — June 1, 2011 —   MedStar EMS is proud to voice its support for the bill banning texting while driving as it awaits Governor Perry’s signature before becoming law.  As the emergency medical services provider for Fort Worth and 14 other cities, the organization is well-aware of the dangers of distracted driving and the often life-changing consequences.

MedStar’s Risk and Safety Manager, Mike Shelton, has devoted more than 20 years to understanding the dynamics of road safety.  He co-authored a driver training program for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians called “Safety:  Takin’ It To the Streets” which was awarded the 2010 Rosencranz Award for excellence in EMS safety and injury prevention.

“Safe driving takes 100% attention,” says Shelton. “It’s plain physics – even an average family car moving rapidly won’t stop or turn on a dime.  A driver whose eyes and mind aren’t on the road has a significantly delayed reaction time and is just a collision in the making.”

Based on research presented by the Texas Department of Transportation at the May 2010 Safety Summit in Austin, a person sending a text message while driving will take their eyes from the road 4.6 out of every 6 seconds.  Multiplied by the vehicle’s speed, this means that a driver going 70 miles per hour will travel almost 500 feet while looking at their phone.   Then, factoring in the driver’s perception time, reaction time and actual braking time, a vehicle in this scenario would cover a distance of more than three football fields before being able to stop.

Over the past year, MedStar has responded to over 8,000 calls to 9-1-1 for motor vehicle collisions within its service area.  If national statistics from the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System hold true, it’s possible that 1,600 of those could have been caused by distracted driving.   But, numbers can tell only part of the story.

“Distracted driving is no joke.  Considering some of the horrific injuries I’ve worked at accident scenes, it’s something that can shatter the lives of everyone involved,” says veteran MedStar paramedic Tim Penic. “No message is worth the risk of ending up like that.”

MedStar applauds the Texas legislators for this potentially lifesaving bill and looks forward to its passing into law.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors, is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services and is named the 2010 Texas EMS Provider of the Year by the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

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MEDSTAR EMS AND FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT HOST FREE LIFESAVING CPR INSTRUCTION THIS WEEKEND AT THE MAIN STREET ARTS FESTIVAL

WHAT:

MedStar EMS and the Fort Worth Fire Department are hosting a

booth at the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival this weekend to teach lifesaving chest compressions to festival-goers.

This event serves as the public kick-off to MedStar’s 25 in 5 Community Chest Compression Campaign to teach this simple form of hands-only CPR  to 25,000 people over the next five years.

WHO:

After only a few hours at the Main Street Arts Festival on Thursday, over 150 people have already been instructed and received their commemorative Chest Compression Champ cards.

WHEN:

Thursday, 4/14 – 10 am – 10 pm

Friday 4/15 – 10 am – 11 pm

Saturday 4/17  – 10am – 11pm

Sunday 4/18 – 10am – 7pm

WHERE:

MedStar Tent

Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival

Northwest corner of 7th Street and Main, Downtown Fort Worth

WHY:   

Chest compressions are quick to learn, easy to do and could give someone with cardiac arrest a second chance at life.  Through this campaign, MedStar will provide free instruction at community events, local business, schools and churches and other public gatherings.  More information and sign ups are available at www.medstar911.org.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors, is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services and is named the 2010 Texas EMS Provider of the Year by the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

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*** MEDIA ALERT & PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ***

Seven city Mayors to lead public celebration of

MedStar’s 25th Anniversary

WHAT:

MedStar’s 25th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration will be a public event to commemorate the 1986 founding of MedStar EMS as the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider for 15 North Texas cities.  The presentation will include:

Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting to the Future by 3 “Day One” employees Joint reading of Mayoral Proclamations from member cities Unveiling of commemorative emblem on ambulance and new MedStar flag Launch of the 25 in 5 Community Chest Compression Campaign

WHO:

MedStar officials will be joined by:  Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth, Mayor Alan Hooks of Blue Mound, Mayor Bill Lanford of Haltom City, Mayor Bob Golden of Haslet, Mayor Walter Bowen of Lake Worth, Mayor Pro-Tem Charles Talbot of Edgecliff Village and Mayor Gary Brinkley of Saginaw.

WHEN:

TODAY - Monday, April 4, 2011 at  3:00 pm

WHERE:

MedStar Campus in Fort Worth -  East Berry Street, just west of I-35W

551 East Berry Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76110

WHY:   

To honor the heritage of MedStar EMS with a pledge to the future service of our communities through the 25 in 5 Chest Compression campaign to teach 25,000 people how to save lives over the next 5 years.  Chest compressions are quick to learn, easy to do and could give someone with cardiac arrest a second chance at life.  Through this campaign, MedStar will provide free instruction at community events, local business, schools and churches and other public gatherings.  More information and sign ups are available at www.medstar911.org.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors, is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services and is named the 2010 Texas EMS Provider of the Year by the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

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MEDSTAR SAFETY REINSTATES SAFETY MEASURES

DUE TO DETERIORATING DRIVING CONDITIONS

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 9, 2011 -   With road conditions deteriorating in Fort Worth and surrounding areas due to ice, MedStar is reinstating the same safety measures implemented last week, suspending high-speed, lights-and-sirens mode and long-distance transports to medical facilities outside of the organization’s service area. 

MedStar ambulance units will respond to calls at a speed that is safe for large vehicles on icy roads and will not use lights-and-sirens which can prove distracting to other drivers.  Additionally, patient transports will be limited to medical facilities in the MedStar service area in order to reduce the amount of time the ambulance is traveling on dangerous streets.

Both measures are to limit the risk of causing or being involved in additional vehicle collisions which pose a significant concern for crews, patients being transported and the driving public.

Since temperatures are not expected to reach above the freezing point today, MedStar will continue to evaluate road conditions.  High-speed and lights-and-siren response mode and transport patterns will be resumed when it is safe to do so.

During last week’s storms, 9-1-1 calls to MedStar for traffic accidents were up as much as 86% above average and calls for falling victims topped out at 198% above average.  For safety, MedStar urges residents to stay off the roads and to use extreme caution when walking on slippery surfaces until conditions improve.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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MEDSTAR RESUMES LIGHTS-AND-SIRENS RESPONSE MODE

AS AREA ROAD CONDITIONS IMPROVE

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 5, 2011 -   As a safety precaution during the recent inclement weather, MedStar had suspended the normal use of lights-and-sirens response mode and was limiting patient transport to medical facilities within the organization’s service area. 

As roadways clear today, MedStar has resumed normal response modes and will again be transporting as appropriate  to medial facilities outside the service area based on clinical need or patient preference. 

Ambulance crews are still being advised to drive with extreme caution as some residential areas are still icy and a re-freeze is expected this evening.  MedStar will continue to monitor weather conditions and make response mode adjustments as needed.

9-1-1 call volume to MedStar peaked yesterday with an increase of almost 50% over the average number of calls, with spikes in responses for falls, breathing problems and traffic accidents.   Today, call volume has begun tapering off and is on-pace to be around 25% above average. 

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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9-1-1 CALL VOLUME FOR EMS UP SHARPLY

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 4, 2011 -   MedStar is continuing to suspend lights-and-sirens response mode and is not transporting patients outside of the organization’s service area.  Both of these safety measures have been implemented to minimize the risk to crews, patients being transported and the driving public. 

Additionally, 9-1-1 call volume to MedStar has increased to almost 30% above average over the past day:

The increase in call volume and extended travel times due to road conditions have caused delayed responses to some non life-threatening calls.  All calls are prioritized based on urgency using National Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols and will be responded to as quickly and safely as possible.

Again, MedStar encourages people to stay off the roads if at all possible.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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MEDSTAR SAFETY MEASURES REMAIN IN EFFECT DUE TO

CONTINUED DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 2, 2011 -   Due to dangerous road conditions in Fort Worth and surrounding areas, MedStar is continuing it’s safety measures to suspend high-speed, lights-and-sirens patient transports and long-distance transports to medical facilities outside of the organization’s service area. 

MedStar ambulance units will respond to calls at a speed that is safe for large vehicles on icy roads and will not use lights-and-sirens which can prove distracting to other drivers.  Additionally, patient transports will be limited to medical facilities in the MedStar service area in order to reduce the amount of time the ambulance is traveling on dangerous streets.

Both measures are to limit the risk of causing or being involved in additional vehicle collisions which pose a significant concern for crews, patients being transported and the driving public.

MedStar will continue to evaluate road conditions and resume high-speed and lights-and-siren response and transport patterns as soon as it is safe to do so.

Over the past two days, MedStar has recorded some statistics of note in the 9-1-1 call volume:

• Calls for Breathing Problems – 96% above average
• Calls for Pregnancy / Birth – 150% above average
• Calls for Falls – 186% above average
• Calls for Traffic accidents – only 41% above average

The increase in falls is certainly predictable as so many surfaces are coated with ice.  Physiologically speaking, abrupt and dramatic changes in the weather can heighten breathing problems for those who suffer from those conditions regularly.  Historically, large storms and other dramatic changes in pressure tend to also precipitate an increase in births and labor on-set. 

The surprising figure is for traffic accidents, which is lower than previous ice storm events in the area.  This may be attributed to the early announcements of delays, closures and cancellations which have enabled people staying home and off the roads.

MedStar continues to urge residents to stay off the roads, if possible until conditions improve.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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MEDSTAR SUSPENDS PATIENT TRANSPORT OUTSIDE SERVICE AREA

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 1, 2011 -   Due to dangerous road conditions in Fort Worth and surrounding areas, MedStar has temporarily suspended patient transports to medical facilities outside of the organization’s service area. 

MedStar’s service area includes hospitals in Fort Worth, Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.

During normal operations, MedStar will transport patients to the facility of their choice within Tarrant County unless the patient’s condition is immediately life-threatening or requires specialized services.  At this time, the road conditions present a heightened danger during transport and necessitate limiting transport to the closest appropriate facility.

MedStar continues to urge residents to stay off the roads, if possible until conditions improve.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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MEDSTAR SUSPENDS LIGHTS-AND-SIREN RESPONSES DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — February 1, 2011 -   Due to dangerous road conditions in Fort Worth and surrounding areas, MedStar has temporarily suspended lights-and-sirens responses out of concern for crew and public safety.  Officials will continually monitor roadways to determine when it is safe to resume such responses.

Historically, MedStar sees a dramatic rise in the number of emergency calls during icy weather, particularly motor vehicle collisions and falls.  In order to address this increase, additional staff have been called in and a contingency plan has been implemented to maintain staff on-site or nearby to help facilitate operations.

Calls to 9-1-1 are prioritized to address the most life-threatening needs first.  During a situation like today’s ice storm, the same system is used, however wait times for non-emergency calls may be extended due to hazardous road conditions and the increased number of calls.

MedStar is dedicated to meeting the emergency medical needs of the communities we serve, even when the weather turns bad.  MedStar joins with the city to urge residents to stay off the roads, if possible until conditions improve.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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LIFESAVING TECHNOLOGY ON-LOAN FROM MEDSTAR

MedStar program loans automatic external defibrillators to special events, free of charge.

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — January 21, 2011 —    An automatic external defibrillator – or AED – can give a second chance to a person suffering a cardiac arrest.  AED’s are simple to use, portable and are specifically designed to be used by non-medically-trained people to deliver potentially lifesaving treatment even before an ambulance arrives. 

In an effort to make this lifesaving technology more accessible, MedStar EMS is proud to announce its AED Loan Program.   While many businesses, schools and public venues often have AED’s readily available, special events and one-time gatherings often don’t.  Through this innovative program, special event planners can borrow an AED unit on a short-term basis at no cost. 

“The survival rates of cardiac arrest patients can be significantly improved by more widespread use of AED’s,” says MedStar’s Medical Director, Dr. Jeff Beeson.  “This program provides a no-cost way to have an AED on-hand during events in our area that currently go without such potentially lifesaving coverage.”   

Studies by the American Heart Association indicate that almost 60% of cardiac arrests are witnessed by a bystander.  They also show that use of an AED by a bystander within the first 3-5 minutes of an arrest can dramatically increase survival rates by as much as 65%. 

Events that qualify for the program include:
Community, school, neighborhood or church events with attendance of over 500 people Group events with athletic or other strenuous activities Events attended by those at high risk for cardiac arrest, such as the elderly or a person with specific history of cardiac distress
 

To be eligible, events must be within MedStar’s 15-city service area and be held at a venue that does not already have an AED onsite.  Participants in the program will receive training from MedStar paramedics on chest compression CPR and how to use the AED device.  Participants must provide a deposit for the unit which will be refunded when the unit is returned to MedStar.  Alternately, the unit may be purchased at cost following the loan period, should the participant choose to keep the unit for future use.

Requests for the MedStar AED Loan Program can be made online at:  www.medstar911.org or by calling (817) 923-3700 during normal business hours.  Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance and will be evaluated based on the event characteristics and availability of AED units for the requested time period.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — November 24, 2010 —  At its annual state-wide emergency medical services conference, the Texas Department of State Health Services awarded MedStar with the Texas EMS Provider of the Year, 2010.   This prestigious award was given in recognition of MedStar’s innovative and groundbreaking programs that have had significant impacts on the healthcare landscape in North Texas.  Many of these programs were developed in close collaboration with the organization’s Medical Director, Dr. Jeff Beeson.  Dr. Beeson was also recognized at the conference as the Texas EMS Medical Director of the Year, 2010.

“To have both MedStar and Dr. Beeson each honored in this way is quite meaningful peer recognition,” says Fort Worth councilmember Zim Zimmerman , who also serves as the Area Metro Ambulance Authority board chairman.  “Both awards are well-earned and mean that the residents of MedStar’s 15 member cities are getting some of the finest, most forward-thinking emergency medical care in the nation.”

MedStar and Beeson have pioneered several unique programs that have earned both statewide and national recognition such as the Advanced Practice Paramedic (APP) program.  Implemented in early 2010 to provide a multi-faceted approach to in-field care, these specially-trained paramedics are deployed to high-acuity calls to provide the most advanced level of expertise and customer service.  Training includes critical care, cutting-edge cardiac arrest protocols, grief counseling, and working with mental and community health patients. 

Through MedStar’s Community Health Program, APP’s visit patients who routinely call 9-1-1 for non-emergency needs, to provide on-going health monitoring and to connect patients to more appropriate resources.  The program has decreased 9-1-1 use within this patient population by over 64%.  Not only does this keep resources available to respond to emergency needs, it has also had a significant impact on local emergency rooms.  In less than one year, this program has saved over 10,000 emergency room bed hours and over $1 million in EMS and emergency room costs.

Through a significant focus toward improving outcomes for cardiac arrest patients, MedStar and Beeson have developed programs which have yielded startling and lifesaving results.  Due in part to the focused scene management by Advanced Practice Paramedics and the administration of therapeutic hypothermia, MedStar has achieved a 37% increase in the number of cases in which a cardiac arrest patient’s heart begins beating again following a resuscitation attempt in the field.   Further, of those patients, 9% leave the hospital neurologically intact, which is nearly twice the national average.

Additionally, a community effort to increase CPR education called “Get the Beat” has provided on-site chest-compression training to the public at area businesses and special events, free of charge.  The program is being considered by the Fort Worth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Fort Worth First initiative to help teach chest compressions to volunteers and other hospitality representatives in preparation for the upcoming Super Bowl festivities. (Requests for this program can be made at www.medstar911.org.)

Some of the programs MedStar has implemented were initially met with questions but have since proven to be of significant value.  MedStar no longer transports patients with CPR in-progress in an emergency mode with lights and sirens.  This decision was based on studies showing that the increased stress on patients and the added risk of high-speed transport did not positively impact patient care.  Also, MedStar now has implemented a field termination protocol.  Following strict guidelines, APP’s may now cease resuscitation efforts in cardiac arrest cases beyond hope after 30 minutes of CPR and other appropriate treatments.  The APP’s are then able to provide immediate grief counseling and after-care instructions for the families who have lost loved ones.  Dr. Beeson is credited with having supported these programs in the best interests of patient care.

Future plans at MedStar include a broader implementation of a public Automated External Defibrillator (AED) loan program which would allow high-risk cardiac patients and special events to check out AED devices on a temporary basis.  Through the MedStar Heart Check program, MedStar is working with area hospitals and cardiologists to schedule APP visits for newly released cardiac patients in an attempt to reduce the need for return visits to the emergency room.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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MEDSTAR EMPLOYEES WITH DISTINGUISHED PERSON AWARDS

MedStar team recognized for courage in the face of danger while aiding a Fort Worth Police Officer.

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — November 9, 2010 —  Being dedicated to protecting and serving Fort Worth residents frequently puts the city’s police officers in harm’s way.   Each year, the Fort Worth Police Department recognizes those who have gone above and beyond to support or assist officers in the line of duty.  MedStar is proud to announce that two of its employees will be honored at the Fort Worth Police Department’s upcoming annual awards dinner.

“[These MedStar employees] exhibited courage in the face of danger,” says Fort Worth Police Lieutenant David Ingram in a letter to MedStar.  “Without time to evaluate the situation, they committed the selfless act of going to the aid of a lone officer.  For their actions while at risk of grave and imminent personal danger and providing extraordinary service to the Fort Worth Police Department in their assistance in dealing with a dangerous subject, Jeff Keese and Curtis Young will be awarded the Fort Worth Police Department Distinguished Person Award at our Exceptional Acts Awards ceremony.”

Event:                   MedStar employees honored at Fort Worth Police Department Exceptional Acts Awards Ceremony

Date:                      Tuesday, November 9, 2010

                                6:30 pm

Location:               Police and Fire Training Center

                                1000 Calvert Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Honorees:             Curtis Young, MedStar Paramedic to receive Fort Worth Police Distinguished Person Award

                                Jeff Keese, MedStar EMT to receive Fort Worth Police Distinguished Person Award

Just after 11:30 pm on February 10 of this year, Young and Keese were on-duty driving a MedStar ambulance unit to their assigned post location.  At I-35W and Western Center, they saw a car which had been pulled over by a Fort Worth police officer.  They then saw a lone officer struggling with a combative subject and a small crowd of agitated bystanders, perilously close to a busy lane of traffic.

Concerned for the officer’s safety, Young and Keese immediately pulled over to assist.  As they ran to the scene, they found the combative subject unconscious on the ground and the crowd converging on the officer.   They immediately began care for the unconscious suspect and helping control the emotional crowd until additional officers arrived on-scene. The suspect was ultimately transported from the scene to a local hospital.

“Those individuals on front lines of law enforcement, public safety and emergency services are a special breed,” says MedStar Executive Director Jack Eades.  “In this situation, Young and Keese demonstrated the kind of character that deserves this recognition.  On behalf of all of us at MedStar, I’m proud to congratulate them.”

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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CPR saves lives today, thanks to groundbreaking research that debuted fifty years ago this month.

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — September 15, 2010 — Over the past fifty years, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, has become a household term. In fact, it’s become a term commonly heard and a concept taught in schools, community centers, houses of worship and places of business daily around the country. For many people, it’s hard to remember or imagine a time before CPR.

However, before September 16, 1960, a heart attack victim’s best hope for survival was a thoracotomy - a sternum-cracking procedure to open the chest cavity – which allowed a surgeon to manually squeeze the heart to force blood circulation. Should the patient survive the thoracotomy, such dramatic and invasive procedures carried tremendous risks and often resulted in life-threatening complications.

In the Scientific Session of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty’s semiannual meeting at the Commander Hotel in Ocean City Maryland, Dr.’s William B. Kouwenhoven, Peter Safar and James R. Jude and Paul Hackett changed everything. During their 12:30 pm presentation on “external cardiac massage and artificial ventilation,” the doctors initiated a revolution in cardiac arrest care that has since saved countless lives worldwide.

“This presentation outlined a completely non-invasive, external procedure combining chest compressions and artificial respiration,” says Dr. Ray Fowler, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “Part of what made this so astonishing was that the basic concept would allow non-medical bystanders to actively participate in patient care and truly impact outcomes.”

The presentation and subsequent articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and the Maryland State Medical Journal presented scientific evidence that compressing the chest externally could provide 40-60% of normal arterial blood flow, enough to give patients a fighting chance. In fact, the research concluded that 72% of cardiac arrest patients in the study were resuscitated using this external process instead of a thoracotomy.

Three years after the debut of the invention of CPR, the American Heart Association formed a CPR Committee and formally endorsed it as a lifesaving intervention. In 1966, demand from medical professionals resulted in the standardization of training and performance indicators. The city of Seattle, Washington embraced the importance of public education in CPR training in the 1970’s and now leads the nation in CPR certification and participation by citizens.

Today, statistics from the American Heart Association show that for the more than 300,000 cardiac arrest patients in the US, early and effective CPR can double or even triple their chances of survival. And, new data suggests that chest compressions alone may be the most crucial element.

For paramedics in the field, success in cardiac arrest cases is measured by the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). ROSC occurs when the heart of a patient in cardiac arrest begins beating on its own during resuscitation. MedStar, the largest emergency medical services provider in Tarrant County, has seen startling increases in ROSC rates since 2008 due in large part to an increased focus on providing vigorous and uninterrupted chest compressions.

“MedStar began a shift toward chest-compression-only CPR in 2008 based on findings coming from the American Heart Association,” says MedStar’s medical director and member of the Emergency Physicians Advisory Board, Dr. Jeff Beeson. “Combined with a few other changes in our cardiac care protocols, MedStar’s ROSC rates have jumped almost 270% over the past two years and our longer-term survival rates are almost twice the national average.”

Chest-compression only CPR training is quick, easy and lifesaving. In less than the time it takes to watch most reality TV shows, a person as young as nine can learn to perform chest compressions, potentially helping a cardiac arrest victim become a real-life Survivor.

MedStar has begun hosting chest compression training sessions at community events, city meetings and area businesses in the hope of increasing the public’s ability and willingness to aid cardiac arrest victims. Considering that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US, learning chest compressions is definitely time well-spent.

To request a chest-compression only training session, visit MedStar's Chest Compression Training page.

About MedStar
Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills. Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — July 26, 2010 —  After riding 37 miles on a bicycle, most people would likely gulp down a sports drink and rest their tired muscles.  After riding 37 miles on July 5, 2010, Fort Worth cyclist Jeff Harrison did something different and utterly amazing.  He jumped into the Trinity River and saved the lives of two people.

While others stood by watching in horror as a mother and her young daughter were swept away by the river’s strong current, Harrison alone flung himself in to the water to help.  After retrieving the two from the water, he began performing CPR on the mother.  Although not formally trained, Harrison performed CPR based on what he had seen on television.

“It takes an incredible amount of courage to take action in a situation like this,” says Zim Zimmerman, Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority Board President and Fort Worth City Council Member.  “In this case, Jeff was a bystander who put himself in harm’s way to make a lifesaving difference for these two people.”

Two MedStar ambulances arrived in little more than six minutes after receiving the call and paramedics stabilized the mother, Sandra Walker.  Walker and her soon-to-be adopted daughter have since made a full recovery and owe their lives to Harrison’s courageous actions and quick-thinking.

“Seeing Sandra’s family and friends at the hospital and listening to their heartfelt thank you’s through their tears was very powerful,” says Harrison.  For a man on the move himself, saving lives appears to be a surprisingly moving experience.

In recognition of his uncommon courage and lifesaving use of CPR, MedStar will present Jeff Harrison with the Community Hero Award at the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board meeting on July 28.

MedStar Community Hero Award presented by Councilman Zim Zimmerman

Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority Board Meeting

10:00 am on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

MedStar EMS – 551 East Berry Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76110

Media interviews available

About the MedStar Community Hero Award

This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the well-being of our community through their support of emergency medical services and courageously rendering aid in an emergency situation by providing timely, accurate and life-sustaining assistance to emergency medical crews.  Nominated by MedStar Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Community Hero Awards are bestowed on an ongoing basis.

About MedStar

Responding to over 100,000 calls each year, MedStar EMS is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to over 880,000 residents throughout  Fort Worth and 14 other Tarrant County cities including Haltom City, Burleson, Saginaw, White Settlement, Forest Hill, River Oaks, Lake Worth, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Haslet, Lakeside and Westover Hills.  Established in 1986, MedStar is governed by the Area Metropolitan Ambulance Authority board of directors and is one of only 132 ambulance services in the country to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. 

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Dallas / Fort Worth, TX — July 12, 2010 — 58-year old Monty Suttle has entrusted his heart to his girlfriend, Robin Fertig in more ways than one.  When Fertig found Suttle not breathing after he collapsed while mowing the yard of his Westworth Village home, she dialed 9-1-1 and followed CPR instructions provided by the MedStar Call Taker.  Her quick-thinking helped save his life.  

Fertig continued CPR until two officers from the Westworth Village Police Department arrived on the scene.  Officers Jeramey Miller and J.D. Lee were then able to take over CPR until the MedStar EMS unit arrived minutes later. The MedStar EMS team used a defibrillator to establish a heartbeat and the Advanced Practice Paramedic utilized a new hypothermia protocol to rapidly cool Suttle’s body temperature during transport to a Fort Worth hospital where he was treated and released after a few days. 

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double a victim’s chance of survival. Having been an avid volunteer and fundraiser for the AHA Heart Walk for several years, Suttle was aware of this fact.  Now, he is also living proof, thanks to the heart-smart actions of those who came to his rescue.

“Administering early and uninterrupted chest compressions is essential in cases of cardiac arrest,” says Dr. Jeff Beeson, Medical Director for MedStar EMS, the ambulance service provider for Westworth Village. “By using CPR, Ms. Fertig and Officers Miller and Lee saved the patient’s life and prevented brain damage that can occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen.”

In recognition of their quick actions and lifesaving use of CPR, MedStar will present Robin Fertig and Officers Miller and Lee with Community Hero Awards at the Westworth Village City Council meeting on July 13.

Presentation of MedStar Community Hero Awards

Westworth Village City Council Meeting

7:00 pm on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

City Hall – 311 Burton Hill Road, Westworth Village

About the MedStar Community Hero Award

This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the well-being of our community through their support of emergency medical services and courageously rendering aid in an emergency situation by providing timely, accurate and life-sustaining assistance to emergency medical crews.  Nominated by MedStar Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Community Hero Awards are bestowed on an ongoing basis.

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 54 ambulances.

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July 9, 2010 — Fort Worth-based MedStar Emergency Medical Services is pleased to welcome Suzy Miller as the organization’s new Public Information Officer. 

In this role, Miller will be responsible for the organization’s PR strategy, media and community relations and marketing communications.  She will also coordinate MedStar’s Citizen’s EMS Academy and Community Advisory Board.

“We are thrilled about Suzy joining our team!  She was the unanimous choice of our selection team made up of internal and external stakeholders,” said Matt Zavadsky, MedStar’s Associate Director for Operations.  Andra Bennett, the Senior Director of Communications for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, who served on the selection panel, explains, “Suzy’s unique combination of healthcare and media relations experience, combined with her outgoing and dynamic personality style makes her a perfect fit for MedStar.”

Miller comes to MedStar with extensive experience in media relations and healthcare communications from leadership positions with Carter BloodCare, CBS Radio and Fidelity Investments.  She holds a degree in media studies from Texas Christian University and volunteers with Executives in Action and the National Marrow Donor Program.

Suzy can be reached at 682-225-7113 or by e-mail at smiller@medstar911.org.

Contact: Matt Zavadsky

mzavadsky@medstar911.org

(817) 632-0522

The Sound of an Emergency is Getting Quieter

MedStar EMS limits use of lights and siren transport

April 15, 2010  (Fort Worth, Texas) The traditional sound of a medical emergency is getting quieter for some patients of MedStar EMS.  MedStar has stopped transporting cardiac arrest patients using lights and sirens.

“We want to provide the best care we can,” said Matt Zavadsky, MedStar’s associate director for operations. “Traveling in the emergency mode makes it more difficult for crews to perform procedures such as CPR, IVs, and EKGs,” Zavadsky explained. “And our studies have shown that traveling with lights and siren only saves an average of two minutes in travel time to the hospital.”

The sound of the siren often increases the anxiety of the patient and may cause their condition to worsen, said MedStar associate medical director Dr. Jeff Beeson.

“Research has shown that the best chances for surviving a cardiac arrest is effective and uninterrupted chest compressions,” Dr. Beeson explained. “Maintaining effective chest compressions in the back of a moving ambulance is difficult under normal circumstances. Doing them while the ambulance is being operated in emergency mode is even more difficult,” he said.

Transporting “cold” (without lights and siren) in these situations means better care for the patient, Beeson added.

Transporting without lights and siren is also safer for the rest of the traveling public, as well as patients and crews. Seventy-four percent of ambulance crashes involving a MedStar ambulance happened while crews were traveling in emergency mode. Zavadsky said he hopes this change will also help reduce ‘wake effect’ collisions of vehicles moving out of the way of the ambulance.

The American Heart Association says effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double a victim’s chance of survival. To encourage greater use of CPR, MedStar will begin offering free CPR classes to the community starting in May. For more information about the classes as well as dates and times, go to MedStar’s web site, www.medstar911.org.

About MedStar

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

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New Technology Improving EMS Response

March 2, 2010  (Fort Worth, Texas)  A new “weather map” of sorts is helping MedStar EMS better predict where 9-1-1 calls will come from, improving ambulance response times and ultimately patient care.

“It is truly cutting edge, “ said Matt Zavadsky, MedStar’s associate director of operations. “Few EMS agencies in the world are using this system.  We truly believe this will help improve our response times and system performance.”

This new EMS “weather map” graphically provides real-time analysis of anticipated call volume. This allows MedStar dispatchers to position ambulances throughout the service area at locations where they can get to the most calls in the fastest amount of time.

The new system combines data from the previous 20 weeks with data from the next 20 weeks from the same date last year to calculate where 9-1-1 calls are most likely to occur.

The Deployment Monitor then creates “storms” of calls on a digital map, with areas of projected high volume shown in dark purple and areas of moderate demand in yellow. The system data updates every five minutes.

The new deployment system also tracks what percent of predicted call volume is covered by available ambulances. Each ambulance traveling within MedStar’s service area is illustrated showing the vicinity the unit can drive to within 7 ½ minutes.  As the unit moves, its coverage area moves with it. 

When a 9-1-1 call comes in, the Deployment Monitor analyzes the call location as well as the available ambulances with the best access to the call. Based on this information, the Deployment Monitor recommends the three closest ambulances with the best drive time listed first.  All of this information is shown on two large screens mounted in MedStar’s Communications Center. MedStar’s goal is to respond to 90 percent of Priority 1 calls in nine minutes or less.

About MedStar

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

Press Release

Contact: Lara Kohl

lkohl@medstar911.org

(682) 225-7113 (cell)

MedStar EMS Receives National Accreditation

January 11, 2010  (Fort Worth, Texas)  MedStar EMS, the exclusive ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities, now joins the elite group of medical transportation service providers that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS).

Of the 2,500 licensed ambulance providers in North America, only 133 are CAAS accredited. With this achievement, MedStar becomes only the fourth ambulance service to be accredited in the state of Texas.

“CAAS accreditation signifies that the MedStar system has met the gold standard determined by the industry to be essential in a modern emergency medical services provider,”  said Jack Eades, MedStar’s Executive Director. “This is another example of commitment to excellence on the part of every one of our employees.”

The 18 month application process included a comprehensive self-assessment and an independent outside review of MedStar operations, including a multi-day on-site review by national experts in emergency medial services.

In order to meet the challenge of receiving accreditation, every area of MedStar was reviewed and numerous improvements were put into place, including implementing process improvement training, documenting follow up process on every patient complaint, testing the emergency communication plan, implementing a strategic plan, completing numerous facility upgrades, tracking and quality insurance of fleet maintenance, proving back up and off site storage for all computer systems and assuring all employees are aware of all policies.

Accreditation means the community can be confident that MedStar is providing the highest level of quality patient care and that it stands ready to care for their families when needed.

About Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)

CAAS is a non-profit organization which was established to encourage and promote quality patient care in America’s medical transportation system. The primary focus of the Commission’s standards is high-quality patient care by establishing national standards which not only address the delivery of patient care, but also the ambulance service’s total operation and its relationships with other agencies, the general public, and the medical community. CAAS’s standards often exceed state or local licensing requirements.

About MedStar

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

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Contact: Lara Kohl

lkohl@medstar911.org

(682) 225-7113 (cell)

MedStar ‘Ties One On’ for the Holidays

Ambulance Service Reminds Public to Drive Sober

December 23, 2009  (Fort Worth, Texas)  Those red ribbons adorning MedStar ambulances aren’t Christmas decorations; they’re reminders not to drink and drive this holiday season and throughout the year.

MedStar EMS, the ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities, is supporting the MADD North Texas’ ‘Tie One On For Safety’ holiday red ribbon campaign with red ribbons on all 47 ambulances in its fleet.

245 people were killed in North Texas in alcohol-related crashes in 2008. Impaired driving remains the nation’s most frequently committed violent crime.

“We see the deadly consequences of drunk driving first hand” says MedStar paramedic Tim Penic ”And it can easily be prevented by simply designating a driver before you go out.”

MedStar EMS reminds the public not to make an ambulance their designated driver:

• Designate a driver before you go out.
• Spring for a cab ride. Whatever it costs is way less than the $17,000 a DWI will cost you.
• Call or text a sober friend to give you a ride.
• Take the bus or other public transportation.
• Sleep it off where you are.

 As a reminder, in Texas, the legal limit for intoxication is .08 BAC. If law enforcement thinks your driving is impaired, you can be stopped and arrested for DWI regardless of your BAC. Penalties get worse with every DWI offense.

About MedStar

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

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Quick thinking and use of AED key to surviving cardiac arrest

October 13, 2009  (Fort Worth, Texas)  Quick thinking and the availability of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) saved the life of a Fort Worth high school student last month.

Just a few minutes into running laps during baseball practice, the student collapsed on the track at Trimble Technical High School – he was unconscious and not breathing.

Coach Tyson Wormsbaker immediately started CPR while Coach Mike Garza called another to bring the AED and then call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Within moments the coaches had secured the student’s airway, administered CPR and when Coach Jason Braud arrived with the AED they used it to resuscitate the student. By the time MedStar’s ambulance crew arrived the student was breathing on his own and was transported to an area hospital.

In recognition of their quick thinking and use of CPR and the AED, MedStar will present the coaches with a MedStar Community Hero Award at tonight’s Fort Worth ISD board meeting.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combined with bystander use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) more than doubles the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest compared with using CPR alone, according to the American Heart Association.

The student continues to make a healthy recovery.

Fort Worth ISD Board of Education Meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Board  Complex, 2903 Shotts St., Fort Worth

About the MedStar Community Hero Award

Given in recognition of individuals who have contributed to the well-being of our community through their support of emergency medical services.

These “community heroes” courageously rendered aid in an emergency situation by providing timely, accurate and life-sustaining assistance to emergency medical crews.

Nominated by MedStar Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Community Hero awards are bestowed on an ongoing basis.

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

# # #

October 12, 2009  (Fort Worth, Texas)  In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month MedStar paramedics and EMTs are wearing pink examine gloves during October.

Healthcare supply company Medline is donating $1 for each case of ‘Generation Pink Exam Gloves’ sold in the month of October to breast cancer research. MedStar’s order will provide for a $300 donation.

“[The color] really stands out,” said Lisa Garcia, MedStar Paramedic. “Hopefully this will encourage people to think about breast cancer and talk to their doctors. And it’s nice to be able to recognize those who have fought the disease, especially those we have lost,” she added.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year.

An estimated 40,000 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.

Although breast cancer is too small to feel and does not cause signs and symptoms when it starts out, as it grows however, breast cancer can cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Symptoms may include:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
• Pain in any area of the breast

Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt. When their breast cancer is found early, many women go on to live long and healthy lives.

About MedStar

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

# # #

Contact: Lara Kohl

lkohl@medstar911.org

(682) 225-7113 (cell)

(817) 632-0507 (office)

Don’t Make an Ambulance Your Designated Driver

If you drink this holiday weekend, let someone sober take the wheel

September 4, 2009  (Fort Worth, Texas)  Thousands of drivers make the deadly decision to drive drunk.  In 2008, 196 people were killed nationally in drunk driving crashes during the Labor Day weekend.

“The days surrounding Labor Day weekend are some of the most dangerous times on the nation’s roadways,” says Mary Kardell, Executive Director of MADD North Texas.  

“Stepped-up law enforcement is a critical deterrent for party-goers, and helps stop drunk drivers before they kill or injure others,” Kardell adds.

MedStar EMS sees the deadly consequences of drunk driving first hand. That’s why we remind people the tragedy from drunk driving can be prevented with a simple choice: If you drink this holiday weekend, choose your ride. Don’t make an ambulance your designated driver.

• Designate a driver before you go out.
• Spring for a cab ride. Whatever it costs is way less than the $17,000 a DWI will cost you.
• Call or text a sober friend to give you a ride.
• Take the bus or other public transportation.
• Sleep it off where you are.

 Need a sober ride? Check out these services:

• ridecharge.com - call and pay for a taxi, all on your cell phone
• 1800taxicab.com - taxi directory of local, independently owned and operated cab companies

As a reminder, in Texas, the legal limit for intoxication is .08 BAC. If law enforcement thinks your driving is impaired, you can be stopped and arrested for DWI regardless of your BAC. Penalties get worse with every DWI offense.

Strike One (first conviction)

• $2,000 fine
• Six months behind bars
• Suspended driver's license for up to a year
• $1,000 every year for three years to keep your driver's license

Strike Two (second conviction)

• $4,000 fine
• One year in jail
• Suspended driver's license for up to two years
• $1,500 every year for three years to keep your driver's license

Get two DWIs within five years and your vehicle will be equipped with an expensive special ignition switch that prevents it from starting if you've been drinking.

Strike Three (third conviction)

• $10,000 fine
• Two to ten years in prison
• Suspended driver's license for up to two years
• $2,000 every year for three years to keep your driver's license

Get arrested for drunk driving with a child under 15 in your vehicle, and it's a felony that comes with a $10,000 fine, two years in a state jail and losing your license for two years.

(DWI penalty information provided by texasdwi.org)

90 Days of Summer Safety

MedStar EMS encourages the community to enjoy their summer activities safely through 90 Days of Summer Safety.  Each week from June 15 through September 7 a new summer-themed safety topic will be highlighted with tips and information. Topics include firework safety, drunk driving awareness, and tips for avoiding heat stroke. Check www.medstar911.org each week for the latest Summer Safety topic.

About MedStar

MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Samson Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

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90 Days of Summer Safety: Roll With It!

Aug. 24, 2009  (Fort Worth, Texas)  Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any consumer product except the automobile. Only about one in four children ages 4-15 years wears bicycle helmets when riding, and teen use of helmets is nearly zero. Some 140,000 children are treated in emergency departments each year for head injuries sustained while they were bicycling, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That’s why it’s so important to teach your kids bike safety as they enjoy their increased independence. You can greatly reduce your children’s risk of injury and death simply by a single rule – wear a helmet. This can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 88 percent. 

Collisions with motor vehicles are another significant risk factor. It is estimated that motor vehicle collisions account for nearly 90 percent of all bicycle-related deaths. Collision with a motor vehicle increases the risk of death, severity of injury, and probability of head injury.

Outfit your child with the proper gear.
• When riding a bicycle, wear a helmet.
• When riding a scooter, wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.
• When riding a skateboard, wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards.
• When inline skating, wear a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards.

Ensure a proper fit.
• The helmet should be comfortable and snug, but not too tight. It should not rock back and forth or side to side.
• Wear the helmet correctly. It should sit centered on top of the head. Always buckle the straps. Do the "Eyes, Ears and Mouth" check:
    1. EYES check: Position the helmet on your head.  Look up and you should see the bottom rim of the helmet (one to two fingers above the eyebrows). 
    2. EARS check:  Make sure the straps of the helmet form a "V" under your ears when buckled.  The strap should be snug but comfortable. 
    3. MOUTH check:  Now open your mouth as wide as you can!  Do you feel the helmet hug your head?  If not, tighten those straps!
• Buy and wear only helmets that meet or exceed safety standards developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is indicated by a label found on the helmet box and on the inside of the helmet.

Teach the rules of the road.
• Riders should be restricted to sidewalks and paths until they reach the age of 10 and can demonstrate that they know the rules of the road.
• Supervision is essential until children develop the necessary traffic skills and judgment.

Be a safety role model.
• Wear your helmet each and every time you ride with your child. Children are more likely to wear a helmet when riding with others who wear one. Encourage other parents to do the same.

Tips provided by Safe Kids Tarrant County, led by Cook Children’s Medical Center. Safe Kids works to educate parents and children about injury prevention.

90 Days of Summer Safety
MedStar EMS encourages the community to enjoy their summer activities safely through 90 Days of Summer Safety.  Each week from June 15 through September 7 a new summer-themed safety topic will be highlighted with tips and information. Topics include firework safety, drunk driving awareness, and tips for avoiding heat stroke. Check www.medstar911.org each week for the latest Summer Safety topic.

About MedStar
MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

# # #

Contact: Lara Kohl

lkohl@medstar911.org

(682) 225-7113 (cell)

(817) 632-0507 (office)

Temperature inside a vehicle can be more than 30 degrees hotter than outside

90 Days of Summer Safety: Stay Cool in the Pool

90 Days of Summer Safety: Preventing Heatstroke

 
July 10, 2009 (Fort Worth, Texas) As temperatures in Fort Worth continue to top 100 degrees this summer, the number of heat-related emergency medical calls increase. So far this season, MedStar EMS has responded to 125 heat-related medical emergencies. While longer days and warmer weather makes more time outdoors appealing, prolonged or intense exposure to hot temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

“Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses large amounts of water and salt through excessive sweating, particularly through hard physical labor or exercise,” said Dr. Jeff Beeson, Associate Medical Director for MedStar EMS in Fort Worth. This loss of essential fluids can disturb circulation and interfere with brain function. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible, Dr. Beeson added.

Heatstroke is a life-threatening problem that occurs when the body suffers from long, intense exposure to heat and loses its ability to cool itself. Heatstroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature and body temperature continues to rise.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include flu-like symptoms such as paleness, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.

“Often, we respond to people who are going about their regular work or daily activities, but don’t realize how quickly heat can affect them,” said Sean Burton, a Paramedic with MedStar EMS. “If you’re going to be doing anything outdoors during the high-temperature summer months, we recommend drinking plenty of water and frequently cooling off in the shade or indoors.”

Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke suddenly and cause unconsciousness within minutes. Some of the most common signs of heatstroke include vomiting, hot, flushed, dry skin, rapid heart rate, decreased sweating, shortness of breath, decreased urination, increased body temperature (104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit), confusion, delirium or loss of consciousness or convulsions.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know starts experiencing any of the symptoms above, immediately call 9-1-1.

While heatstroke and heat exhaustion are common this time of year, they can be easily prevented.

Hydrate: Drink plenty of water during the day, especially if you are engaged in any strenuous activity. Sports drinks are a good choice if you're exercising or working in hot conditions, but water is a good way to hydrate as well.

Ventilate: Stay in a place where there is plenty of air circulating to keep your body cool. If you are indoors and don't have access to air conditioning, open windows and use a fan.

Cover Up: Wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing to avoid absorbing the sun's light and trapping heat. Wear a hat to shield yourself from the sun, but once you feel yourself getting warm, remove any items covering your head which can trap heat close to your body.

Limit Activity: Heatstroke can occur in less than an hour when you are participating in strenuous activity during a hot day. If you feel yourself getting hot or light-headed, stop your activity and rest in a cool place out of the sun. Be sure to drink water or a sports drink before, during, and after any strenuous activity.



90 Days of Summer Safety
MedStar EMS encourages the community to enjoy their summer activities safely through 90 Days of Summer Safety. Each week from June 15 through September 7 a new summer-themed safety topic will be highlighted with tips and information. Topics include firework safety, drunk driving awareness, and tips for avoiding heat stroke. Check www.medstar911.org each week for the latest Summer Safety topic.

About MedStar
MedStar is the exclusive emergency and non-emergency ambulance service provider to 15 Tarrant County cities including Blue Mound, Burleson, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. Established in 1986, MedStar provides advanced life support ambulance service to 421 square miles and more than 860,000 residents in Tarrant County. MedStar responds to about 100,000 emergency calls a year with a fleet of 47 ambulances.

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