Paramedics like Dan Cardona and Gwen Bibby, along with Willie, will be on scene for the Stop the Bleed event.

As part of National EMS Week, Armstrong Ambulance Service will be conducting free hemorrhage control and first aid training for interested members of the public.

WHEN:
Thursday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:
Armstrong Ambulance Service in the ambulance bay (rear of the building), 87 Mystic St., Arlington

WHAT:
National EMS Week runs from May 19-25 and recognizes EMTs/paramedics who provide lifesaving services everyday. Armstrong tactical paramedics assigned to the NEMLEC SWAT Team will conduct the hands-on Stop the Bleed training, which takes about 10 minutes.

Through simple techniques, any adult or teenager can drop in and learn how to save a life in critical situations with bleeding patients. Refreshments will be provided along with a meet and greet with paramedics and Willie Blue, the Armstrong support puppy. Members of the public can sign up by emailing education@armstrongambulance.com or can just drop in anytime between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Armstrong Paramedic Stephanie Crayton (center) met with her neighbor’s Girl Scouts troop in order to help them earn their first aid badges.

An Armstrong Ambulance paramedic recently shared her expertise in emergency medicine in order to help a group of Girl Scouts earn their first aid badge.

Paramedic Stephanie Crayton worked with her neighbor, Dor, and her fellow scouts to share knowledge about the types of injuries and ailments she and her colleagues at Armstrong encounter. In doing so, she helped the girls fulfill one of the core requirements to earn their first aid badges — talking face to face with a first responder.

The scouts are all fourth graders from Cambridge.

Crayton told the girls about her experiences as both a paramedic for Armstrong and as a firefighter with the Cambridge Fire Department, as well as how ambulances and fire departments collaborate to help people in need.

Crayton covered a variety of topics with the scouts, discussing some common types of emergencies and what to do when they arise. They addressed choking, nose bleeds, allergies and anaphylaxis (and the difference between the two), burns, bone fractures and the proper recovery position for someone who is breathing but unconscious.

The scouts also asked Crayton about a wide array of scenarios, including what to do if someone’s house is burning, they’re choking and have a nose bleed all at the same time.

“I was so glad they asked me to help,” Crayton said. “The girls were great listeners and had a lot of fantastic questions about the work we do as paramedics, and I’m proud of the work they put into earning their badges.”

Armstrong Ambulance took its new therapy dog on its first community outing last week.

On Thursday, April 18, Armstrong’s chocolate lab, Willie Blue Armstrong, paid a visit to the Arlington Senior Center. He was accompanied by Armstrong HR Director (and Willie’s trainer) Beth Keegan, Provider Relations and Marketing Representative Katherine Aker and Chief Business Officer Meredith Lambroff.

Following an invitation by senior center staff, the outing became Willie’s first official trip into the community since he joined Armstrong earlier this year. During his visit, members of the Armstrong team filled attendees in on Willie’s background and training.

They also shared some inside stories about Willie’s life at Armstrong’s Arlington base, including his devilish side where he once sneaked off with a colleague’s lunch. The group chuckled at the “Silly Willie” stories and had smiles from ear to ear.

“The group asked a lot of questions, shared stories about their own pets and took pictures with Willie,” Lambroff said. “We all left feeling happier. It was a great day, and we’re looking forward to going back to visit as well as having Willie brighten up many more lives.”

Willie’s visit was chronicled on his Instagram account, which features regular updates on his day-to-day life. To see Willie’s Instagram page, click https://www.instagram.com/williebluearmstrong/.

*Click https://vimeo.com/331462468 and  https://vimeo.com/331462478 for videos of Willie’s visit to the senior center*

Armstrong EMT Jennifer Bowman handed out eggs at the Gerry McCarthy Community Egg Hunt.

Armstrong Ambulance joined the community in an Easter celebration over the weekend in Brighton.

Armstrong opened the doors to one of its ambulances to the public on Saturday, April 20, at the 36th annual Gerry McCarthy Community Egg Hunt at the Sisters of St. Joseph in Boston.

At the event, hundreds of area kids aged 2-10 gathered to collect Easter eggs and explore an ambulance, as well as vehicles from the Boston Police and Fire Departments.

EMTs Remy Cortorreal and Jennifer Bowman handed out eggs and candy to children in attendance, and also welcomed them into the ambulance, where they used stethoscopes to listen to their hearts and lungs.

Armstrong EMT Remy Cortorreal checks a child’s heart and lungs during the touch-a-truck portion of an Easter egg hunt in Brighton.

Armstrong Ambulance is pleased to join Recovery Centers of America to provide hands-only CPR lessons to RCA patients. Beginning last month, Armstrong staff are visiting RCA’s Danvers location and working with patients suffering from addiction to teach them how to perform lifesaving CPR prior to being discharged from treatment.

The lessons, which were organized and are taught by Armstrong Educational Coordinator Larry LeDoux, provide RCA patients with a basic understanding of how to perform CPR, including the proper technique and rhythm to ensure the best chances at success. LeDoux teaches students the steps, including calling 911 first and foremost, and then administering chest compressions to the beat of a familiar song with an appropriate amount of beats per minute. Some examples include “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees or “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce.
“These lessons provide RCA’s patients with a valuable skill that they may some day need to help a loved one or friend in need,” LeDoux said. “This is something tangible and practical that patients can be proud of upon being discharged.”

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 90 percent of those who undergo sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die. If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple a victim’s chances of survival.

“During the drug and alcohol epidemic that exists today, so many of our patients are in situations where friends and others around them are overdosing and dying,” Danvers Recovery Centers of America CEO Laura Ames said. “Narcan is not always available and this CPR training by Armstrong Ambulance provides our patients with a valuable lifesaving skill to help others suffering from an addiction who are in need of help.”

Armstrong Ambulance representatives attended a college fair held by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Wednesday.

Armstrong Ambulance representatives attended a college fair held by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Wednesday.

The Wednesday, April 17 fair was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough. Students and foster parents attended the fair to meet with schools and organizations and learn about academic and career opportunities for young people following high school.

Last year, almost every public college in the state was represented at the fair, among other post-secondary groups and private colleges.

Armstrong Ambulance Basic Life Support Training Coordinator Larry LeDoux and HR Generalist Michael McCusker attended the fair, where they informed teens about the available paths to pursue a career in emergency services. They spoke with students about the opportunities and education available to become chair car driver, EMT, or paramedic.

“Working in emergency services is incredibly rewarding, and crucial for the vitality and safety of every community,” McCusker said. “It was a great opportunity for us to share that with students, and inform them about the opportunities and programs available to them to pursue a career in this field, helping people and making a difference every day.”

From left: Armstrong Ambulance CEO Rich Raymond (holding Willie), St. Elizabeth’s EMS Manager Jeff Scafidi, Dr. Sush Prusty and Armstrong Director of Clinical Integration Ben Podsiadlo.

Several members of the Armstrong Ambulance team attended a recent heart health event in Boston, where one member presented to fellow attendees and another was presented with an award.

The ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Boot Camp, held Saturday, March 23, at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston featured an in-depth look at the issues surrounding STEMI, which is one of the most severe forms of heart attack.

The Boot Camp was led by Dr. Sush Prusty, and included a presentation by Armstrong Director of Clinical Integration Ben Podsiadlo. During his talk, Podsiadlo discussed the three core concepts of the Boot Camp, including the checklist mindset, EKG, and clinical pattern recognition and team debriefing when managing patients with STEMI.

The event emphasized the key pillars of addressing these forms of heart attacks, and included representatives from the EMS, nursing and allied health professions.

“This bootcamp addressed a critical health issue that our first responders, as well as emergency medical practitioners need to be prepared to collaborate on in order to save patient lives,” Armstrong CEO Rich Raymond said. “Ben has helped Armstrong to emerge as a leader on this issue, and I was glad to see him engage with so many of our peers to both learn from them and share his knowledge.”

Podsiadlo and Raymond were joined at the Boot Camp by Armstrong’s resident therapy dog, Willie Blue Armstrong, who was honored by the event organizers as the Mascot of the Year.

Armstrong Ambulance Service reports that Armstrong EMS personnel safely treated and transported a newborn baby boy and his mother to the hospital after the baby was delivered by his father in the back of the family’s minivan early Monday morning.

At approximately 1:35 a.m., Saugus Police dispatchers received a 911 call from a frantic man who told them that he was driving to the hospital and his wife was giving birth in their minivan.

The baby had to be delivered in the van and was unresponsive and not breathing because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. A Saugus Police dispatcher stayed on the phone with the father and had him remove the umbilical cord from around the baby’s neck and told him how to administer CPR.

The baby began breathing and started crying.
A short time later, crews from Armstrong Ambulance arrived and provided emergency medical treatment and transported the mother and the baby aboard the ambulance, while a Saugus firefighter drove.

The two were treated by the Armstrong Ambulance EMS team and safely transported to the hospital where they were healthy and doing fine. This is an example of excellent teamwork by Saugus 9-1-1 Dispatch, Police, Fire and Armstrong Ambulance personnel.

“Usually we like to transport expecting mothers to the hospital before the baby is born, but we are very happy that the baby and mom are both healthy,” said Richard Raymond, Armstrong Ambulance CEO.

Armstrong EMT Melissa Pierce and Paramedic Wayne Gilbert speak about their actions after responding, treating and transporting a newborn baby delivered in the back of a minivan in Saugus. Also pictured is Interim Chief Ronald Giorgetti of the Saugus Police Department.

Here is a link from WCVB recapping the story: https://www.wcvb.com/article/saugus-dispatcher-credited-with-saving-newborn/25992532

Armstrong Ambulance is asking members of the community to participate in its upcoming Valentine’s Day blood drive.

WHEN:
Thursday, Feb. 14, from 2-7 p.m.

WHERE:
Armstrong Ambulance Service, 87 Mystic St., Arlington

Armstrong Ambulance will open its doors to members of the community who would like to make a life-saving blood donation.
According to the American Red Cross, which has partnered with Armstrong for this drive, donated blood means the difference between life and death for patients in emergency situations, as well as those undergoing surgeries and cancer treatments.

Donors must sign up in advance and may do so by clicking here. Donors should plan to spend up to an hour donating, but they can save time on the day of the drive by using the Red Cross Rapid Pass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questions.

“Armstrong saves lives every day, and this is an opportunity for both our team and the communities we serve to come together to help even more people in need,” Armstrong CEO Rich Raymond said. “I want to invite everyone to take part in this blood drive and give the gift of life this Valentine’s Day.”

Anyone with questions about the blood drive is encouraged to reach out to Katherine Aker at 781-859-1314, or by email at kaker@armstrongambulance.com.

Veterinarian Beth Eisenberg works with Comet, a black lab that came along for Armstrong’s training on K-9 first aid.

ARLINGTON — Armstrong Ambulance personnel participated in a specialized training last month that would help them render aid to an injured dog in an emergency.

On Wednesday, Dec. 12, Armstrong welcomed veterinarian Beth Eisenberg from the Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn for an in-depth training session that would enable them to help an injured dog, such as a police K-9 hurt in the line of duty.

Armstrong EMTs and Paramedics worked with a black lab to learn more about its anatomy and develop an understanding of how properly listen to its heart and lungs and locate its pulse.

Staff members were also trained on basic handling of an injured K-9 — including providing safe transport using a backboard — and all of the critical skills they’d need to respond to various types of trauma, much as they do with human patients. They also had the opportunity to practice CPR on a K-9 mannequin.

“We work closely with police departments and other Law Enforcement agencies which includes their K-9 members, so we want to be prepared to provide critical lifesaving aid to anyone at a scene who may need it,” Armstrong CEO Richard Raymond said. “Our team members did an excellent job building an understanding of how they can provide immediate help to injured dogs just like they would with an injured person.”
While all Armstrong EMTs and Paramedics have undergone extensive and specialized training to provide aid to human beings, the course on K-9 first aid allowed them to have a baseline understanding of the needs of injured animals and how their first aid needs differ from those of humans.
The course is part of Armstrong’s ongoing training program, and provides participating EMTs and Paramedics with continuing education that they must fulfill in order to maintain their certifications. 28 Paramedics and EMTs participated in the training.

Armstrong Paramedic Nick Henderson practiced performing CPR on a K-9 mannequin.

Armstrong EMT Wendy Wolleger practiced performing CPR on a K-9 mannequin.