Looking Back and Leaning Forward . . .

As we review the first six months of 2017, the Region continues to demonstrate its strengths not only in preparedness, but also in response.   Regional assets have responded to numerous multi-casualty incidents since the first of the year, including a large apartment fire in Kalamazoo, a multi-casualty carbon monoxide poisoning in Niles, and numerous multi-casualty incidents on I-94 and US 131.  Most recently a crash on US 131 involved a number of pediatric patients, which brought to the forefront, our readiness to care for children and families.  Additionally, this incident occurred at a time when regular local resources were unavailable to respond due to a funeral for the fire chief that tragically lost his life while serving others at a crash on I-94 .  The incident was managed well and to the victims’ benefit by both Region 5 and Region 6 resources that were covering.

We cannot become complacent!  We have great assets and resources and we use them.  We cannot forget that new staff come on board and equipment changes, but our commitment to “leaning forward” does not.  (Have you signed up to go to Anniston with our Region 5 Coalition??)  Coming up in the next few weeks our regional equipment will be used to ensure the safety of responders and event participants and reduce the impact of large crowd events on our region’s hospitals and EMS resources.  These events include the B-93 Birthday Bash, Red Bud Motor Raceway, Barry County Fair, Calhoun County Balloon Festival and other summer events.  THANK YOU to our Regional Partners for their awareness and efforts to shore up our response capabilities as a region.

The Many Cogs of the Wheel in Region 5

Early Saturday morning, Region 5 staff were among the many participants that assisted, and supported the efforts of Responders, to an apartment fire in Kalamazoo.  Multiple fire and public safety agencies, Kalamazoo Metro buses, the American Red Cross, hospital case managers and the YMCA of Kalamazoo were among the many Responders.  A fire originating in an apartment at the high rise structure forced the evacuation of many elderly, frail and physically compromised residents, requiring evacuation down several flights of stairs under dark, smokey and wet conditions.  Many evacuees were dressed in pajamas and had only socks on their feet.  Region 5 staff had the privilege of supporting Responders by deploying the Region’s rehab vehicle to the scene and assisting with the set-up and initial coordination and registration of over 100 residents transported to the shelter set up by Red Cross staff at the Kalamazoo YMCA.  The efforts of many, from the medical support provided by the WMU School of Medicine emergency medicine physicians, EMS Fellows and Kalamazoo County Medical Control Authority, to the staffing of the shelter by Life EMS paramedics to provide needed emergency medical services for the duration of the shelter operations; the “stepping up” of staff from Medilodge and Bronson hospital and the support and facilitation of retrieving necessary medications and medical equipment from the damaged apartment building by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers are prime examples of the quality of our Region’s response.  Many, many other organizations called to offer support and assistance.  The Kalamazoo community is blessed with resources and kindness.   Much of the evacuation equipment, and of course the Coalition’s response is supported by the preparatory activities of the 5th District Medical Response Coalition–thanks to all for continued commitment and preparation. 

Mass Fatalities Planning and Response for Rural Communities

Today, instead of the regularly scheduled 5DMRC meeting, our region hosted a FEMA program, AWR-232, Mass Fatalities Planning and Response for Rural Communities.  This workshop was arranged by our regional public health partners as a follow-up activity to this past spring’s well attended Mass Fatality Symposium.  Sixty participants spent a full day listening to seasoned instructor, Arbie Goings, who traveled to Michigan to present the program.  Mr. Goings’ experience spans responses to several mass fatality incidents, including hurricanes, (Katrina and Gustav among them) the Haiti earthquake, and a plane crash.  We will return to our normal 5th District meeting schedule on December 13, 2016 at 08:30am and will be doing a modified Training and Education Planning Workshop for Region 5.  Thank you to those from Region 5 that spent the day learning about the various components of response to Mass Fatality events!

Great Participation In Child Disaster Services Volunteer Workshop in Kalamazoo

Nearly 40 participants attended an overnight workshop on September 30-October 1, 2016 to be trained to respond to assist children during disasters. Sponsored by 5dmrc in conjunction with outstanding trainers Kathy Howell and Katie Nees from Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) with support from Bronson Child Life Specialist, Kristy Woodwyk, everyone gained insight as to what their role would be if deployed to set up support for children after a disaster. Many thanks to the Red Cross for providing cots to sleep on and to the “old” and new 5th District partners that attended!!

Happy Zombies???

Not!! Standardized Patients from Western Michigan University School of Medicine; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) students from Kalamazoo Valley Community College and other community members spent a portion of a day this week serving as mock patients in a mass casualty incident simulation as a component of Advanced Disaster Life Support training for Emergency Medicine Residents preparing for EMS field response. Kudos to these fabulous actors for their contribution to this excellent training.

Simulated trauma victims help Residents learn how to address mass casualty situations