Category Archives: News


 

Armstrong Ambulance Hosts K-9 First Aid
Course Following Passage of Nero’s Law

Arlington Police K-9 Officer Mike Hogan right) and his personal dog, Ivy, joined in
Armstrong Ambulance’s K-9 first aid training. (Courtesy Photo Armstrong Ambulance)

ARLINGTON — Armstrong Ambulance team members recently took part in a special training focused on providing critical aid to police K-9s injured in the line of duty.

On Tuesday, June 28, Armstrong hosted K-9 first aid training at its Arlington headquarters. Armstrong partnered with the Arlington Police Department’s K-9 Officer, Mike Hogan, who brought his personal dog, Ivy, to support the effort. The training was led by Dr. Beth Eisenberg of the Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn. It was coordinated by Armstrong Field Operations Manager Victor Marchese.

The training is meant to align with a recent change to Massachusetts state law — Nero’s Law — which now permits ambulance operators to treat and transport police K-9s. The law is named after K-9 Nero, the retired partner of the late Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon, who was killed in the line of duty in 2018 while serving a warrant.

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First Responders Taking Extra Precautions In Wake Of Coronavirus Outbreak

Armstrong’s Director of Clinical Integration, Ben Podsiadlo, spoke with Channel 5 News about personal protective equipment (PPE) which EMS providers don as part of their infection control protocols. Armstrong continues our dedication to working along with our partners and healthcare colleagues to keep our communities and patients well cared for and safe.


Armstrong Ambulance Educates Providers on Coronavirus

Armstrong EMT Lauren Malsick led a continuing education program for Armstrong staff and other first responders.

Armstrong EMT Lauren Malsick led a continuing education program for Armstrong staff and other first responders.

As world health leaders work to address the global spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Armstrong Ambulance is responding by providing its caregivers with the knowledge and skills they need to both support patients in need and protect themselves.

On Monday, Feb. 3, Armstrong hosted an Infectious Diseases Seminar at its Center of Education in Woburn. The program, developed in response to the global spread of Coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China, was led by Armstrong EMT Lauren Malsick.

Armstrong staff, including EMTs and paramedics, as well as partner public safety personnel from the Medford Fire Department and Tufts University Police Department took part in the seminar.

While viruses like COVID-19 cause fear, Malsick stressed that the flu kills thousands every year and poses a more dangerous threat to the population, overall. She also reminded providers of the importance of vaccination, especially against diseases like the measles, which are far more infectious and dangerous than the coronavirus.

The training also emphasized the importance of disinfecting by washing hands and thoroughly cleaning EMS work spaces, including ambulance patient compartments and vehicle cabs.

In addition to her role with Armstrong, Malsick holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and biochemistry and a master’s degree in biotechnology from Boston University, and has worked in a high containment facility focused on Ebola and other hemorrhagic fever viruses.

“Our providers encounter a broad array of patients, so it’s important that they have all the information they need to provide the best possible care while also keeping themselves safe,” CEO Rich Raymond said. “Lauren is an expert on this topic and she gave everyone who took part some valuable insight that they can draw upon if the need arises while treating their patients.”


Armstrong Ambulance Staff Members Share Advanced Life Support Techniques During Trip to Haiti

Armstrong EMT Cole Turissini and Paramedic John Sossei (back row) traveled to Haiti last month to share life support techniques with medical professionals.

Armstrong EMT Cole Turissini and Paramedic John Sossei (back row) traveled to Haiti last month to share life support techniques with medical professionals.

Armstrong Ambulance is pleased to announce that two staff members recently returned from a week-long trip to Haiti, where they trained hospital staff on advanced life support techniques.

From Jan. 19-26, Paramedic John Sossei, interventional cardiologist Carl Turissini and his son, Armstrong EMT Cole Turissini visited Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, Haiti. While there, the trio worked with doctors, nurse practitioners and registered nurses to develop their advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) skills.

In addition, Dr. Turissini donated two monitors/defibrillators to the hospital to support their cardiac life support efforts. The three worked with Haitian medical professionals, as well as a doctor from Cuba, and were able to share their expertise despite language barriers between the English speaking instructors and French, Spanish and Haitian Creole speaking students.

Hôpital Sacré Coeur is a 200 bed hospital that is the largest in northern Haiti, which is the poorest country in the western hemisphere according to the World Bank. It has provided uninterrupted service to that region of the country for almost 30 years.

“It was truly one of the biggest honors of my life to teach these skills to such a dedicated group of medical practitioners,” Sossei said. “They were all extremely prepared and had a huge desire to learn, and were receptive to our ideas and guidance.”

Over the course of a week, Sossei and the Turissinis worked with their Haitian and Cuban peers to share the lifesaving ACLS and PALS skills, which will in turn be shared with other medical professionals at the hospital.

ACLS is used in the urgent treatment of cardiac arrest, stroke, myocardial infarction and other life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies, while PALS is used to treat children in emergency situations.


Annual “Wintersgiving” Drive

B. Berkes GBFG

On behalf of Armstrong, we extend a sincere thank you to our amazing employees and community members who generously donated winter clothing items and non-perishable food items during our fourth annual winter drive. Thanks to everyone’s giving spirit and combined efforts we were able to donate an abundance of coats, sweaters, pants, hats, socks, gloves and boots to Bay Cove Human Services. We also donated numerous boxes of healthy food to The Greater Boston Food Bank which will be distributed to families in need across Eastern Massachusetts.

After collecting items for over a month, Armstrong organized a special transport and delivery to Bay Cove Human Services and The Greater Boston Food Bank to drop off all the donations. Both organizations were so appreciative of this years turnout and are looking forward to our continued partnership in the years to come.

Thank you to all who helped make the drive so successful!

B. Berkes K. Aker Bay CoveGBFB


Armstrong Ambulance to Host Annual Blood Drive

Armstrong Ambulance is pleased to announce that it will host its annual blood drive next month. On Thursday, Feb. 13, Armstrong will partner with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive at its Arlington headquarters. The blood drive is open to members of the community and fellow first responders alike, and serves as an opportunity for all to make a lifesaving blood donation.

The drive will last from 2-7 p.m., and donors must sign up in advance in order to participate. To register online ahead of time visit, https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=Armstrong. Additionally, donors can save time on the day of the drive by visiting, https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/manage-my-donations/rapidpass.html.

“We look forward to hosting our blood drive every year as a way to provide our team members and members of the communities we serve with an opportunity to give back,” Armstrong CEO Rich Raymond said. “Each year, people come out to strongly support this initiative, and I have no doubt they will again in 2020.”

Blood Drive Flyer '20


Happy 1st Birthday, Willie Blue!

bday 2

Friday , December 13th, 2019 was Willie Blue’s 1st Birthday! Throughout Willie’s first year he’s mastered basic commands, visited two nursing homes, provided emotional support therapy to seniors, earned his Canine Good Citizen certificate from the American Kennel Club, made many friends and found a home here at Armstrong. Each day he brings so much joy and unconditional love to our team members!

Happy Birthday, Willie!

bday 1Bday


“Wintersgiving”

 

Paramedic Marc MacLaughlan and EMT Matheus Martins Santos

Paramedic Marc MacLaughlan and EMT Matheus Martins Santos

Armstrong Ambulance is collecting donations of warm clothing and non-perishable food for those in need this holiday season.

From now until Dec. 31, Armstrong will be collecting new and gently used clothing items to help the homeless stay warm this winter. The items that are needed most include coats and jackets, boots, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, sweatpants and jeans.

In addition, Armstrong invites members of the communities it serves — plus anyone from surrounding communities — to contribute non-perishable food items. Ideal items for donation include canned protein like tuna, chicken, salmon, beans and low-sodium soups, canned vegetables, pasta sauce, canned fruit, fried applesauce, whole grains like crackers, oatmeal, high fiber cereal and rice, or dairy items like evaporated milk.

Clothing items will be donated to Bay Cove Human Services, while food items will be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Please note that the food bank does not accept baby food or pet food.

Collection bins are located inside each of Armstrong’s locations, and residents interested in donating items may leave them at the facility, where they will be collected by an Armstrong employee.

Donations can be delivered to any of the following locations:

87 Mystic St., Arlington

487 Washington St., Brighton

217 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington (entrance in the rear)

70 Union St., Medford

32 Summer St., Stoneham

10 Micro Drive, Woburn (entrance in the rear)

55 Knox Trail, Acton

16 Hamilton St., Saugus

“Armstrong is dedicated to providing a higher standard of care for our patients and communities every day, and we want to heighten that care by giving back,” Armstrong CEO Rich Raymond said. “Our care providers regularly interact with vulnerable populations and understand there is a significant need for support that we, along with our partner communities, can help meet. We encourage everyone to join us and help collect warm clothing and nutritious food items for families who need it the most this holiday season.”

Any questions may be directed to Meredith Lambroff at 781-859-1306.