
News
DeKalb EMS Gets New Respiratory Equipment With Grant Funds (VIEW VIDEOS HERE)
May 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Ambulance Service is now better equipped to enhance the respiratory care of patients with the recent acquisition of three new ventilators and IntuBrite video laryngoscopes.
An Operations and Safety Grant, the amount of $24,000, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program was awarded over a year ago to help purchase the equipment.
Hoyte Hale, local EMS Director, and Bradley Mullinax of the Emergency Communications District (911) applied for the grant two years ago. Hale explained that it took time to obtain and make use of the equipment after the grant was awarded because of the bidding process in making the purchase and due to the training that was required of the EMS staff.
“In 2016 I applied for an AFG grant with the help of Bradley Mullinax for ventilators and IntuBrite Video Laryngoscopes. We were awarded the grant in 2017 and then got bids on the equipment to purchase. We got a really good deal and were able to buy three ventilators instead of two. We even had money left over to buy the video Laryngoscopes. I am very proud that we got this grant awarded to us. It will help out the citizens of DeKalb County. When we take vent patients to Nashville it will help us provide a better quality of care for them,” said Hale.
Cody Johnson, a Critical Care Paramedic, explained how this upgrade in respiratory equipment will be a benefit to the ambulance service and to its patients.
“Ventilators allow paramedics to ventilate the patient with a more custom approach. Three year old pediatrics have different breathing needs than full grown adults and with that (ventilator) each patient is able to get a better rate of oxygen delivery. Once we get a patient stabilized and take them to the nearest hospital, if their breathing ability is compromised and we have to breathe for the patients we are able to place them on a ventilator and after they are stabilized at a local hospital, we are able to transfer them to a higher level of care. With the ventilator, it allows paramedics more time to better calculate medicines and to reassess the patients all without having to worry so much about making sure the patient is getting the proper amount of oxygen and proper ventilation rate,” said Johnson.
“We also now have video laryngoscopes. With a normal classis laryngoscope, a paramedic is able to place the device into the patient’s mouth and it lifts up their tongue and epiglottis so that when he inserts an intubation tube to get perfect access to the patient’s lungs he can get a direct visual on the vocal chords. With a video laryngoscope, the paramedic is able to see around the tongue a lot easier and a lot better for patients that may have a bigger tongue or who is really hard to intubate for any number of reasons. With this we’re able to see around the tongue and intubate a lot easier better confirming that we have a good airway when transporting a patient,” added Johnson.
Local Pilot Receives Prestigious “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award”
May 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
A local pilot has earned the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for more than 50 years of safe flying.
Lee Bridges of Smithville was presented the award at a dinner in his honor Wednesday evening at the Smithville airport.
The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is presented to pilots who have flown for more than 50 years with no accidents, incidents, violations or civil penalties. It is the most prestigious award the Federal Aviation Administration issues to pilots certified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61.
The award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first US pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots”.
Bridges met all the prerequisites for this award including zero accidents, incidents or deviations in his 50 years of flying with over 30,000 flying hours. His career over these 50 years includes Flight Instructor, Corporate Pilot, and Airline Captain flying for both United Airlines and US Airways.
Bridges retired from US Airways in 2012 with over 32 years of service. He is an aircraft owner and also a certificated Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic and he holds an Inspection Authorization. His love of flying was passed down from his father who was a World War II pilot and Airline Captain as well.
Lee’s wife Ginnie is also a certified pilot as are his two children, Bo and Heather. His wife, his two children, his four grandchildren, and many other well-wishers were all present at the dinner when Lee received this award.
DCHS Seniors Visit Elementary Schools for “Senior Walk” (VIEW VIDEOS HERE)
May 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
Donned in their caps and gowns, DeKalb County High School seniors walked through their old stomping grounds – Smithville Elementary School and DeKalb West School – during the Annual Senior Walk held today (Thursday, May 17).
(VIEW DCHS SENIOR WALK AT SMITHVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BELOW)
School administrators and staff, some showing emotion, joined in and congratulated each of the soon to be graduates upon their arrival by school bus. Many of the elementary students, lined down the halls, greeted the seniors with waves, high fives, confetti, and cheers as they passed by. Some seniors also got hugs from proud parents and former teachers. Cheerleaders at DeKalb West School led cheers to welcome the graduates there.
(VIEW DCHS SENIOR WALK AT DEKALB WEST SCHOOL BELOW)
The Senior Walk is an opportunity for students to return to their elementary campuses and parade through the hallways in their caps and gowns while the Graduation Pomp and Circumstance (song) is played over the P.A. While we hope this will inspire our future graduates, we are excited about our seniors being able to see their elementary school teachers one last time before they graduate,” said DCHS Principal Randy Jennings.
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