Monthly Archives: January 2019

Armstrong Ambulance Service Safely Transports Newborn Baby to Hospital After Delivery in Back of Minivan in Saugus

Saugus Wicked Local 1-22-19

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 newborn baby delivered in the back of a minivan in Saugus. Also pictured is Saugus Police Dispatcher Ryan Bancroft who assisted family during delivery.

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


Don’t Let Winter Water Safety Slip Through The Cracks

Medford firefighter uses an ice rescue sled to make his way towards the "victim".

A Medford firefighter uses an ice rescue sled to make his way towards the “victim”.

On Thursday, January 17th, Armstrong joined forces with our partners at Medford Fire to conduct a live ice rescue drill to prepare for unforeseen accidents. During the drill, Medford firefighters simulated an emergency ice rescue using their Rescue Alive Sled to extract a “victim” (one of Medford’s firefighters), immersed in the cold waters of Brooks Pond in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford. Once the “victim” was safely pulled to shore, Armstrong’s EMT Wendy Wolleager and Paramedic Mike Gilbert jumped in to assess the “victim”. Wendy and Mike immediately showed how care would be provided to prevent further heat loss by wrapping a blanket around the “victim” to start the rewarming process and minimize hypothermia.

Brooks Pond was chosen as the location after a father and daughter fell through a thinning spot on the pond while they were ice skating on  Sunday, January 13th, 2019.

A tremendous job was done by all involved!

Armstrong EMT Wendy Wolleage and Paramedic Mike Gilbert assess patient and start the warming process by wrapping the "victim" with a blanket.

Armstrong EMT Wendy Wolleager and Paramedic Mike Gilbert assess patient and start the warming process by wrapping the “victim” with a blanket.

For more pictures of the ice rescue drill see the link from Wicked Local: http://medford.wickedlocal.com/photogallery/WL/20190117/NEWS/117009988/PH/1


A New Year Brings Warm Wishes

Bay Cove 1-2-19 (2)

(Left-to-right) Armstrong Support Services Ed Kelly, Armstrong Provider Relations and Marketing Representative Katherine Aker, Armstrong EMT Nina Feinberg, Armstrong Chief Business Officer Meredith Lambroff and Bay Cove Human Services Communications Manager Joshua Wardrop meet and unload a special delivery to Bay Cove of donated winter clothing items out of Armstrong’s ambulance.

On behalf of Armstrong Ambulance Service, we wanted to extend a sincere thank you to our employees and community members who so generously donated winter clothing items and supported our third annual Winter Warmth Drive. Thanks to everyone’s giving spirit and combined efforts we were able to donate over 900 winter clothing items to Bay Cove Human Services and give the gift of comfort and warmth in the New Year. This year’s donations includes 224 pairs of socks, 134 coats, 52 sweaters, 84 pairs of pants, 90 sweatshirts, 47 shirts, 5 vests, 75 hats, 7 headbands, 52 scarves, 78 pairs of gloves, 12 pairs of shoes, 10 pairs of boots, 16 undergarments and 6 blankets.

A remarkable cause such as this called for a grand delivery! On Wednesday, January 2nd Armstrong organized a special ambulance transport and delivery to Bay Cove Human Services with all the donations collected over the past month. Bay Cove was so appreciative of all the donations and is looking forward to our continued partnership in the years to come.

We also extend a big thank you to Ed Kelly and Nina Feinberg for all their coordination and help in making this great cause possible again this year.

Bay Cove Human Services Vice President of Development Dave Hirschberg and Bay Cove Human Services Communications Manager Joshua Wardrop assist Armstrong staff members with donation drop off.

Bay Cove Human Services Vice President of Development Dave Hirschberg and Bay Cove Human Services Communications Manager Joshua Wardrop assist Armstrong staff members with donation drop off.

 

Armstrong Support Services Ed Kelly delivering boxes of winter boots and socks upstairs to Bay Cove Human Services dressing room.

Armstrong Support Services Ed Kelly delivering boxes of winter boots and socks upstairs to Bay Cove Human Services dressing room.


Armstrong Ambulance Invites Community to Valentine’s Day Blood Drive

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.”

Blood Drive Flyer '19

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.


Armstrong Ambulance Staffers Participate in Hands-On K-9 First Aid Training

K9 Training 12-12-18 (4)

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

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

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