PULSE Magazine | August 2019 Issue PE

P U L S E August 2019 ANAUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PUBLICATION

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August 2019

Contents

Featured News

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SISTER CITY PARAMEDICS FROM SALTILLO, MEXICO

This year we had eight paramedics visit from our Sister City of Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico. During their stay in Austin the paramedics participated in a Spanish AHA Health Care Provider CPR class instruct- ed by ATCEMS Medics.

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MEET-A-MEDIC

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Recruiting’s Meet-A-Medic series is a great way to get to know your coworkers! We’ve included five of the latest profiles full of interesting tidbits.

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RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Recently Clinical Specialist Ariel Jewell had the opportunity to make a positive impact in both a human and his dogs lives. Her kindness and compas- sion made a lasting impression that completely changed the trajectory of their circumstances.

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SURVIVOR STORIES: MR. JOE NORTON

On June 26th Mr. Joe Norton fell and broke his femur while riding his bike at the corner of Dean Keaton and Red River streets. ATCEMS Medics from Medic 13 (Clinical Specialists M. Mason & H. Holt) responded to the call.

Operations Support- Fleet and Facilities participating in the STARS Unit Activity Appreciation Lunch.

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Division News

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ON THE STREETS WITH HOST

The Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) recently let us tag along to videotape what it’s like to spend a day with them on the streets.

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COMMUNICATIONS CALL OF THE QUARTER

In Every Issue

On June 3rd, 2019 Captain Angela Vorhies took an OB call. The caller reported that the 17 year old patient was 27 weeks pregnant, that her water broke, and that she had a cervical cerclage .

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EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

ATCEMS employees receive kudos, special thanks and congratulations for a job well done.

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WHAT IS: MEMORY

WHY YOU FORGET— FIVE STRANGE FACTS ABOUT THE BRAIN Memory can be a playful thing. It collects minute details from childhood events, yet leaves us wondering where we left our keys.

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WARNING CITYOFFICIALS ADVISE KEEP PETS OUT OF LADY BIRD LAKE

Owners strongly advised to keep pets out of Lady Bird Lake.

The City of Austin is advising pet owners to not allow pets to swim in or drink water from Lady Bird Lake after being notified that two dogs have died after swimming in the lake. The City cannot confirm the cause of either death. On Sunday, City of Austin scientists investigating the water quality noted the presence of clumps of algae in Lady Bird Lake. Preliminary results indicate the algae is a type of blue green algae of the genus Oscillatoria. This type of algae can release a neurotoxin. The neurotoxin in this type of algae can be harmful to pets and people if a sufficient quantity of water or algae is ingested. The algae is especially prevalent near Red Bud Isle, covering up to 40% of the water surface in that area. It also tends to be more abundant near shorelines and in areas with low water flow. The situation is evolving. We have not seen any impacts to aquatic species at this time. There have been blue-green algae blooms in Austin in previous years, but we have not been aware of any effects from neurotoxins. Algae tends to be more prevalent in late summer and early fall and when flows are low.

Austin Water regularly looks at algae levels on Lake Austin and Lake Travis and has not seen levels of concern for drinking water. Austin Water does not use Lady Bird Lake as a source for drinking water.

The current algae bloom appears to be confined to algae growing on the bottom of the lake and then floating in clumps to the surface. Scientists have taken samples of both the algae and the water near the algae in Lady Bird Lake. Results from the analysis for the actual presence of the toxin should be available early next week. Dogs who ingest water contaminated with this toxin could have a number of symptoms. On the severe end, it could result in respiratory paralysis and death. Look for these signs in your pet within minutes to hours of exposure:

Until we have more information, we strongly advise that pets stay out of the water. At this time, we

 Excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea

Loss of appetite

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Foaming at the mouth

 Photosensitization in recovering animals

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Jaundice, hepatomegaly

Abdominal tenderness

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Blood in urine or dark urine

Progression of muscle twitches

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Stumbling

Respiratory paralysis

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have no reason to believe that boating is unsafe. However, people should not be swimming in Lady Bird Lake. It is illegal. When out on the lake, people should take care to avoid ingesting water or coming into direct contact with the algae. The degree of risk to human exposure, such as through accidental swallowing of lake water, cannot be known until the tests results are available and analyzed.

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Each summer, City staff use their own money to buy school supplies to Austin students in need. The Build a Backpack event is to ensure the students in our community receive the help needed to succeed in school this fall. Every year Austin-Travis County EMS participates in this annual event. Clemente Leal delivered the back- packs from our department to city hall. Overall City employees built 1450 backpacks and donated a ton of school supplies. THE ANNUAL BUILD A BACKPACK & SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE is a volunteer effort organized by City of Austin employees to benefit local students .

Our deepest gratitude to all EMS employees who built backpacks or donated supplies to help make this year’s event a success. Your generosity is appreciated and makes a difference in the lives of our youth.

Special thanks to Clemente Leal for hand delivering the backpacks to City Hall.

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The Sister Cities relationship is special. It is a bond, supported by our city government and promoted by volunteers, that connects us to our international friends. The relationship between Austin and Saltillo is something even more significant. Not only are we bound by Sisterhood, we are neighbors. Our great states, Texas and Coahuila are connected by land, roads, music, food and families, separat- ed only by our shared resource, the Rio Grande. Together, we are one great space. This land is our land. We are Coahuila and we are Texas.

In 1968, the City of Austin, Texas, led by Mayor Harry Aiken, and the City of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, led by Mayor Jesús Gonzalez Santos, held official visits to the seats of government of both cities. They

agreed via a Resolution adopted by the Austin City Council that Austin and Saltillo would work towards establishing friendship, respect and mutually beneficial exchange. This year we had eight paramedics visit from our Sister City of Saltillo Coahuila Mexico. During their stay in Austin the paramedics participated in a Spanish AHA Health Care Provider CPR class instructed by ATCEMS Medics . They learned high quality CPR for adults, child and infant. A special thanks to CPR Coordinator J. Villanueva, Instructor C. Leal, Clinical Specialist's H. Garcia and J. Cantu for making this possible

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Free CAR SEAT FITTING STATION

Child must be present los ninos tienen que estar presente

September 20, 2018 Wednesday 9:00 am — 12:00 pm

Last appoint- ment begins at 11:30 am la ultima cita comienza a las 11:30 am

To make an appointment call the Safety Line (512)972-SAFE (7233) or EMSPubEd@austintexas.gov

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The U.S. Department of Labor Official tribute to U.S. workers on Labor Day:

“ The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known, and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”

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Don’t Let Food Poisoning Spoil Your Party

If you’re planning on a family picnic or outdoor entertaining for the upcoming Labor Day weekend make sure you follow safe food preparation and storage guidelines to guard against the potential for food poisoning. Food poisoning kills 420,000 people a year worldwide and 600 million people a year are affected by it. The most common strains of bacteria associated with food poisoning are: Listeria, Salmonella, Staphy- loccocus aureus, and Bacillus cereus. A severe case of food poisoning can carry side effects that linger after the initial illness has subsided. Food poisoning can ruin far more than a weekend in the sun, in certain cases it can carry severe health complications. There are documented cases of people who have been left with crippling joint pain due to salmonella and every year thousands of people also end up with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a direct result of food poisoning, which is difficult to manage and can cause severe abdominal pain, bloat- ing, cramping, gas, diarrhea and constipation. A particularly nasty bout can also develop into longer-term food intolerances, the symptoms of which can include fatigue, headaches, and migraines. The reliably hot weather during the months of August and September in Central Texas unfortunately brings the increased danger of contracting food poison- ing. Lukewarm food served at room temperature, especially if it’s 100+ degrees outside, is a prime growing temperature for dangerous bacteria. If you are keeping the food at the wrong temperature and you keep it there for long enough, especially if it has been cross-contaminated, you will always develop pathogenic bacteria. Many cases of food poisoning and illness come from situations where food is left out for long periods before being reheated. Picnics, buffets or any environment where food is left out in the open is always suspect and is also at risk of contamination from pests. A single fly can deposit up to 1,000 microbes by landing on food that is waiting to be served, which has sometimes has been left out for hours.  The preparation of the food was not hygienic (dirty hands, cross-contamination from other foods or surfaces containing bacteria, or was exposed to pests)  The food was not stored at the correct temperature. Keep the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C). The freezer temperature should be 0° F (-18° C). Check temperatures periodically.  The meal was undercooked. Many pathogenic organisms are already present in raw or under- cooked meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs. Make sure you are thoroughly cooking your food to kill bacteria that is already there.  Marinate food in the refrigerator. Bacteria can multiply rapidly in foods left to marinate at room temperature. Also, never reuse marinating liquid as a sauce unless you bring it to a rapid boil first.  Clean the refrigerator out regularly and wipe spills immediately. This helps reduce the growth of Listeria bacteria and prevents drips from thawing meat that can allow bacteria from one food to spread to another.  Keep foods covered. Store refrigerated foods in covered containers or sealed storage bags, and check leftovers daily for spoilage. Store eggs in their carton in the refrigerator rather than the built in egg tray on the door, where the temperature is warmer. Taking these simple precautions will help you avoid the misery of food poisoning. Remember, when in doubt throw it out! Food poisoning always starts with contamination:

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Meet-A-Medic: Tony Smith, Field-Captain

I’m Tony Smith, currently a field captain at ATCEMS. My experience and EMS educational background totals to 24 years as a paramedic, including six as a flight medic. I hold both the Flight Paramedic (FP-C) and Critical Care Paramedic (CCP-C) certifications, earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Public Safety Management from St. Edward’s University, and am currently working on my Master’s in Public Safety Leadership and Administration at Arizona State University. When not at work, you can find me at Avery Ranch golf course or at home studying.

Where are you from originally and what brought you to Austin? I am originally from southern California. I was hired by ATCEMS in 2011.

What inspired you to become a medic/What attracted you to this career choice? I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others. There is a lot of autonomy as a paramedic, and everyday is something different.

How long have you been with ATCEMS and what motivated you to work here? I’ve been with ATCEMS almost eight years. The level of patient care, the opportunities that are available in the department, and the highly regarded reputation of ATCEMS were the motivating factors in my decision.

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What is your favorite part about working here at ATCEMS? Three things: Having the opportunity to work with my son, my other co-workers, and the many different things you can do within the department. I’ve worked some unbelievable overtime assignments, including meeting and shaking the hand of PGA great, Phil Mickelson. If you had guests visiting Austin for the weekend, where is the first place you would take them? I think anyone visiting Austin needs to experi- ence 6th Street on a Friday or Saturday night, particularly since Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World .

What is your favorite taco joint in town? El Jeffe’s taco truck next to fire station 17.

What do you do on your days to relax and unwind? I play a lot of golf, and now that I have a granddaughter turning two, my wife and I enjoy spending time with her.

Who inspires you? Both my late grandfather and father-in- law. My grandfather served his country proudly in the Navy, attended UCLA, owned his own company, was a great family man, and taught me the game of golf. My late father-in-law immigrated here from Mexico, worked as a plasterer for the city of Los Angeles for over 30 years, and not only exemplified hard work, but also embodied kindness.

What is the next place you would like to visit? Why? Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler, Wisconsin. On top of being iconic, the serenity there looks amazing.

Word of advice for an aspiring medic? I’ll use a quote from Patch Adams since I can’t say it any better. “You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win no matter what the outcome.”

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Meet-A-Medic: Tyler Smith, Clinical Specialist-Field

I’m Tyler and I’m 23 years old. I’m a second generation paramedic and have worked for Austin- Travis County EMS since August of 2015. Ever since I started EMT-B school, I’ve focused on further- ing my education and knowledge in prehospital medicine. I have a wife and a 1 and 1/2-year-old daughter. I like to spend my free time with family, playing with my daughter, studying, and occasion- ally playing my Xbox. I did Hapkido for 5 years and was in wrestling during all 4 years of high school. I met my wife in high school and we’ve been together since 2011. Some of our favorite things to do include going to the movies at Alamo Drafthouse and hiking .

Where are you from originally and what brought you to Austin? I was born and raised in southern California. I grew up in the small city of Yucaipa, and prior to moving here in 2011, lived in the city of Walnut just outside of Los Angeles. When my dad got hired on with the ATCEMS, we moved to Austin.

What inspired you to become a medic/What attracted you to this career choice? After high school, I really didn’t know what to do. I had wrestling scholarship offers, but I didn’t have any desire to attend college. I was delivering pizzas and knew that I wanted to do something more with my life, but I just didn’t know what that was. One day, my dad said, “Why don’t you come on a ride along with me and see if you like it”. I knew that he had been in EMS since before I was born, and as a kid, I would always hear him tell stories of calls that he went on at work, but it never really grabbed my attention. On that ride along, I finally got to see what my dad did for a living. That day flew by and be- fore I knew it, the day was over. I remember asking my dad, “That’s the end of the shift? I really loved this”. This job never gets old to me. There’s always something different each day and nothing is ever “text book”. I could never want or ever see myself doing anything other than prehospital medicine.

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How long have you been with ATCEMS and what motivated you to work here? I’ve been with ATCEMS for almost 4 years now. The motivation to work here was the noticeable differ- ence between ATCEMS and other EMS systems. I use to work for a private EMS service before coming to ATCEMS. It was my experience there that made me appreciate first-hand just how different ATCEMS is from the rest- from not having to physically lift a K-tank off the ground anymore (while simultaneously hoping it doesn’t catch the bottom lip of the tank causing you to drop it) to the amazing medical direction that we have and everything in between. I also wanted to be able to utilize what I had learned in school, as opposed to doing transports. Anywhere you work will have its ups and downs, but when I hear stories of other EMS systems, it always adds to my appreciation of everything that we have here at ATCEMS. What is your favorite part about working here at ATCEMS? It’s really hard to say what my favorite part about working here is, but if I had to pick one, I would have to say the medical direction. The ability to think outside of the metaphorical box, and really apply your knowledge to its full potential, is pretty unique to our system. A lot of EMS systems use a protocol method (I.E. If this, then do this or if that, then do that). Here at ATCEMS, we have guidelines rather than protocols, this allows us to provide the best prehospital medicine and care possible to our patients. If you had guests visiting Austin for the weekend, where is the first place you would take them? This is really a tough question. It depends on the season, and the time of year. I’d have to say the Loop 360 Overlook near the Pennybacker Bridge. From there you can see some of the downtown skyline, you have the lake right there, the hiking trails right there, and the fresh air of the outdoors, it just really sums up everything that makes Austin, Austin.

What is your favorite taco joint in town? Las Trancas Taco Stand on East Cesar Chavez Street.

What do you do on your days to relax and unwind? I enjoy playing with my daughter and spending time with my wife. Whether it’s a vacation, a hike, watching a movie, or just grocery shoppig, just being with my family makes me forget about everything else.

Who inspires you? My wife, my daughter, and my dad inspire me. My wife and daughter have always given me the drive that I need to push through any challenge. I am working on putting my wife through nursing school so she can follow her dream, and just as my dad did for me when I was a kid, I want to be able to provide my kid with what she wants and needs. As I have grown up and basically followed my dad’s foot steps to a T. I have now seen and can truly appreciate all of the sacrifices he has made to provide for his family. I want to be just like that. What is the next place you would like to visit? Why? California during the winter. I always take my family on vacation during the summer, but I have yet to take them during the winter. They have not seen snow deeper than what we get here in central Texas. Word of advice for an aspiring medic? It might sound trite but, your knowledge maybe the only thing standing between the patient and the grave. Never study to “just pass the test”. Study like your kid’s life, your spouse’s life, your parent’s life, or your grandparent’s life depends on it, because at the end of the day that patient is someone else’s child/spouse/ parent/grandparent. Patients are not just patients.

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Meet-A-Medic: Eric Gordon, Commander

Hello, I’m Eric Gordon, currently serving as the Safety Commander for Austin Travis County EMS. I have worked for ATCEMS for 15 years and have been in my current role just over a year. I have spent the majority of time working within the Special Operations division, and I was fortunate enough to spend 5 years as an Academy Captain. Additionally, I am on the ATCEMS Honor Guard, a Technical Search Specialist with Texas Task Force-1, and involved with the Emergency Medical Task Force program. I have an amazing wife and a wonderful 7-year-old daughter. You can find us playing in a pool somewhere, hiking, camping, in the garden, boating, working out, or enjoying some great food on a patio

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Where are you from originally and what brought you to Austin? Originally, I am from the Dallas Area and moved to Central Texas in 1994 to attend college at South- west Texas State in San Marcos. After graduating college, I moved to Austin and started working at the Children’s Hospital of Austin. What inspired you to become a medic/ What attracted you to this career choice? Prior to EMS, I worked as an ER Tech in the old Brackenridge Hospital and Children’s ER. At the time, The Children’s Hospital of Austin was attached to Brackenridge. There I learned what emergency medicine is and what medics did. The idea of providing emergency care outside of the hospital environment was very appealing to me .

How long have you been with ATCEMS and what motivated you to work here? I have worked with ATCEMS for 15 years. When I learned what it meant to be a medic, I did research around the country and talked with those involved in the department at the time. I love living in Central Texas and with what I learned, I decided ATCEMS was the place for me. It didn’t take much for me to decide that this is the place where I wanted to build a career . What is your favorite part about working here at ATCEMS? The people and the opportunities. There are truly some great people that work for ATCEMS. Also, working here gives you the opportunity to branch out into different aspects of emergency response. This depart- ment truly allows you to expand your scope as a first responder . If you had guests visiting Austin for the weekend, where is the first place you would take them? Valentinas Tex-Mex BBQ for breakfast followed by a day exploring the Texas Hill Country .

What is your favorite taco joint in town? That is a tough question! There are so many, but you can never go wrong with Veracruz or Torchy’s.

What do you do on your days to relax and unwind? We enjoy time at the pool, watching movies, and boating around the lake.

Who inspires you? My daughter. She is so amazing, smart, inquisitive, honest, and joyful. She keeps me striving to be the best that I know how, to allow her to grow into a caring and successful adult. What is the next place you would like to visit? Why? Iceland. For the culture, waterfalls, glaciers, and food. No matter how long you have done something, there is always something new to learn. Keep yourself educated. Stay humble, treat others how you want to be treated, and don’t forget that the patients you treat are people. They have mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, broth- ers, and loved ones just as you do. And have fun and enjoy life! Word of advice for an aspiring medic?

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Meet-A-Medic: Rance Marion, Clinical Specialist

I’m Rance Marion and I am a paramedic currently assigned to Recruiting at ATCEMS. My career as a paramedic began 25 years ago and I never looked back. My life outside of EMS involves a passion to see the world, weekend camping get-a-ways, painting art, biking, and time with my two grown children.

Where are you from originally and what brought you to Austin?

I was born and raised in the Rolling Plains of Texas in a small farming/oil production town. After attending college at Texas Tech University I completed my paramedic and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was a firefighter paramedic there for 7 years and I always said if I ever move back to Texas that Austin is the only option. So here I am 17 years later and I still enjoy living and working here.

What inspired you to become a medic/What attracted you to this career choice?

Like a lot of medics I stumbled into it. My senior year in college I decided to take an EMT-Basic course two nights a week while completing my degree. I thought it would be good knowledge to have if I was ever faced with an emergency. My first day of class I was hooked as I realized it was an opportunity for me channel my desire to help people. After college I went straight through the paramedic program in Lubbock and obtained my license.

How long have you been with ATCEMS and what motivated you to work here?

I started my career at ATCEMS 17 years ago in 2002. Prior to applying I noticed that ATCEMS was featured on the cover of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services magazine. It was right there on the corner of the coffee table in the fire station practically begging me to look through it. So I picked it up and read about the department and remember thinking that I really wanted to work there. After reading it, I

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recalled a conversation I had with a colleague the previous year and he was considering a career with ATCEMS. He had completed all the research and told me that it was one of the best EMS systems in the country. I took the magazine article as sign to apply and not long after that I found myself in Austin work- ing for ATCEMS. It was a win-win.

What is your favorite part about working here at ATCEMS?

One of the best things about working here is a sense of everyone wanting to clinically practice at the highest possible level and hold ourselves to a high standard. I have had the privilege of working next to some of the best pro- viders around. I also have the honor being reassigned to Recruiting were I enjoying taking time to talk to potential applicants about ATCEMS. There are so many good things about working here so it’s easy to go on about all the positive aspects of this department.

If you had guests visiting Austin for the weekend, where is the first place you would take them?

Salzburg Austria

I would take them to Lady Bird Lake for a walk on the trail and to the green belt for a hike.

What is your favorite taco joint in town?

Hands down Veracruz Tacos. There is usually a wait but it’s worth it as every taco is made fresh.

What do you do on your days to relax and unwind?

Depends on the day and how I feel. I paint art, hit the hike/bike trails around Austin, or paddle board. Spring and fall involves as much camping as I can squeeze in on week- ends before the summer heat rolls in. I once spent 30 days living/camping in a 1977 VW bus driving up the Appalachi- an Trail to Bethel, NY where Woodstock was held.

Who inspires you?

My grandmother was my inspiration. She taught me to be strong yet humble. She was a nurse and was the most compassionate and non-judgmental person I knew.

What is the next place you would like to visit? Why?

I have a goal to travel around the world much like my grandmother. I take an overseas trip every year and next year I’m planning on going to parts of Asia, starting with Vietnam. I have bounced around Europe several times and now it’s time to go the other direction to experience new cultures, traditions, and people.

Word of advice for an aspiring medic?

Never stop learning as the medical field is ever evolving. This is also a service to the community and you should be prepared to be that for your patients. There is automatically a lot of respect from the public when you put on that uniform each day. Wear it with mutual respect to the citizens and patients you care for.

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Meet-A-Medic: Bob Luddy, Clinical Specialist, SpecOps - Rescue

I’m Bob Luddy, paramedic currently serving as the acting Captain in Special Operations Training and Logistic Support for ATCEMS. I have 24 years of experience in the field as a medic, most of that with ATCEMS Special Operations. My family and I stay busy with work and school, and most of my free time is dedicated to my three kids. If you don’t find me at work, you can bet that I’m at home working on a project or studying, or at one of my neighborhood parks or pool playing with my kids.

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Where are you from originally and what brought you to Austin?

I’m originally from San Diego California. I moved to Austin in the spring of 1998 after being offered a position with (then) Austin EMS.

What inspired you to become a medic/What attracted you to this career choice?

I kind of fell into EMS. I didn’t have much of an idea of what I wanted to do after high school, except for a vague idea that I would be a police officer. I was getting ready to sign up for a police academy when I suddenly realized that I wanted people to like me while I was helping them, I saw an ambu- lance responding to a call around the same time and thought that maybe I should look into that whole EMS thing. The rest is history.

How long have you been with ATCEMS and what motivated you to work here?

I have been with ATCEMS since June of 1998, so just over 21 years now. I came to the department because I quickly realized that I wanted to make a career out of EMS, but I wasn’t interested in the firefighting industry. I wanted to work for a company that had a great reputation and focused on delivery of medicine. Austin EMS was the best around, so I gave it a shot.

What is your favorite part about working here at ATCEMS?

I love the diversity of the people that I work with, the ability to specialize in other areas of medicine such as Special Operations or Community Health. I truly appreciate working for an EMS system that works with excellent medical direction to bring the best care possible to our patients.

If you had guests visiting Austin for the weekend, where is the first place you would take them?

Chuy’s. My family will take any excuse to get to Chuy’s.

What is your favorite taco joint in town?

For my money, the best taco joints are the ones that you find in the back of gas stations or a food truck. The ones run by families and where I can barely order because of the language barrier. You’ll find the best tacos in those kinds of places.

What do you do on your days to relax and unwind?

When I’m not at work I mainly spend time with my family. Most days you can find me lifting weights, running or swimming. I’m teaching myself (slowly) to play the piano after decades away from it, and I’m studying for two different educational tracks.

Who inspires you?

My wife is amazing. She somehow finds the time to be a full-time ER nurse, a full time Family Nurse Practitioner student and to be a great mom to our kids. I truly don’t know how she manages all of that and being married to me!

What is the next place you would like to visit? Why?

It’s been my wife’s dream for a few years to go to Greece and relax on the Mediterranean Sea. I’d love to be able to make that happen for her.

Word of advice for an aspiring medic?

A career in EMS is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared for long days and lots of time away from your family. Cultivate good relationships with your co-workers and learn everything that you can from everyone that you work with. A great paramedic never stops learning. The job stress can be high, but this is the best, most rewarding job on the planet!

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JOB WELL DONE! HEAT EMERGENCY

It is imperative to heed the heat advisory warnings. The following story serves as a reminder the life-threatening emergencies that heat can create.

Clinical Specialist K. Pailes

Medic J. Remson

Mendenhall—AFD Leal—AFD Crane –AFD Ramone—AFD

Austin-Travis County EMS Medics Pailes & Remson from Medic-20 along with Austin Fire Department Engine 36 C-Shift recently responded to a patient who had collapsed outside of a business and unresponsive. Upon assessment it was discovered the unresponsive patient had a core temp of 108.2 degrees faherenheit. ATCEMS Deputy Medical Director Dr. JR P ickett (Office Of The Medical Director - City Of Austin-Travis County) was immediately contacted and he advised our medics to try everything possible to cool the patient on scene before trans- porting thee patient. Dr. Pickett states that with a temperature that elevated every minute the patient remains with that high of a temp they run the risk of brain damage, this risk increase with each passing minute. As a result the ATCEMS & AFD crews went to the Sam's Club across the parking lot and obtained donations of a tarp, a shopping cart, several bags of ice, and enough water to immerse our patient.

The patient’s temperature was safely lowered to 101.4F before being transported to the hospital where the patient continues to receive further medical treatment.

This was a great example of teamwork, creative problem solving and a local business (SAMS Club) stepping forward in a time of need with generous donations for the best interest of the patient.

GREAT WORK BY ALL

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Ariel Jewell, Clinical Specialist-Field

If you know me well at all, you know I’m a sucker for animals. Especially dogs. How many times have you gone into someone’s home and paid more attention to the dog in the house than the human? We all tend to get a little crispy doing this job at some point and need little reminders to have a little more compassion and empathy. Dogs teach us those lessons with simple body language. I recently had the opportunity to make a positive impact in both a human and dog(s) life and had the rare opportunity to learn those lessons. I was dispatched to a P4Psych call about a month ago. We had to make forcible entry because the patient was making threats on his life and wouldn’t open the door for APD. After trying to get him to answer the door for an hour, they finally called us. We quickly realized he didn’t real- ly have a need for EMS and with an MHO on scene it would have been easy enough to walk away and let them take care of getting him to the appropriate facility. However, this was one of those times I simply could not walk away. He was very anxious about leaving his two elderly little dogs behind, and with good reason. One of them was very frail and needed insulin injections twice a day. With the patient going on a 72 hour hold that would not be possible. He also had no friends or family willing to help him out. As I loved on the dogs and looked around his home, I saw a shrine on a book shelf to all of the pets that have come and gone in his life and I realized if he came home from the hospital and his 2 dogs were dead, he would be too. It was quite obvious that, in that moment, their lives mattered more to him than his own. I just couldn’t walk away without trying to help. I made arrangements with a friend of mine that fosters for Austin Pets Alive to help me to take care of the dogs. Between the two of us we were able to give the diabetic dog his shots twice a day and keep them alive while he was in the hospital. Afterward, he and I were able to chat. He told me that he had lost all hope and had given up. However, he realized while he was in the hospital that there are still good people in the world and that I had given him hope to keep going by the kindness I had showed him and his dogs.

I learned some valuable lessons that day:

1. Even though someone doesn’t necessarily need us in a medical capacity, that doesn’t mean that we can’t help them in some other meaningful way. 2. Even though you may be having a bad day, somebody else is having a worse one (I had been “Carled” that morning for 24hrs on M8 and was not happy to be at work).

3. Sometimes we need reminders to be good humans. When we are burnt out it’s easy to lose our compassion and empathy for others. I definitely needed to be reminded that I still had some of both left to give. What I hope to impart by sharing this story is the lessons that I learned and hope that you too will recognize the opportunity to help someone in a way that we don’t normally get a chance to. A random act of kindness can have a ripple effect far beyond what you might imagine.

inspire

empower

change

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On the Streets with HOST Removing Barriers for Austin’s Homeless Population

Click on the video above to watch the amazing Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) in action! Learn more about the team and the role our Community Health Paramedics aka "CHiP's" have in navigating Austin’s homeless population to the services, programs and resources they desperately need.

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Survivor Joe Norton Meets His Rescuers

On June 26th Mr. Joe Norton fell and broke his femur while riding his bike at the corner of Dean Keaton and Red River streets. ATCEMS Medics from Medic 13 ( Clinical Specialists M. Mason & H. Holt) responded to the call and transported Mr. Horton to Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas.

On Sunday, August 4th, Mr. Norton rode his bike on the street for the first time since the accident!

"Please send my thanks and regards to the EMS guys who helped me on June 26th! They were both very helpful to me when I was pretty much helpless and I am really grateful that they were there for me." - Mr. Joe Norton

Mr. Norton sent us this video (click on his image right) that his wife took, and some Garmin stats from his first ride on the street and another recent indoor ride. He also got to meet all his rescuers including Comm CS Tyler Green in per- son on Wednesday, Aug. 21st. Mr. Norton brought his wife and grandson who had a lot of fun with the lights and sirens!

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COMMUNICATIONS CALL OF THE QUARTER

On June 3 rd , 2019

Captain Angela

Vorhies took an OB call. Her customer service caught the attention of her partners on shift and they submitted the call for recognition. The caller report- ed that the 17 year old patient was 27 weeks pregnant, that her water broke, and that she had a cervical cerclage. An- gela continued through triage and moved into pre-arrival instruction advising the caller to position the patient and remained on the line until first respond- ers arrived.

Well Done!!

Captain Nikki Alston QA/QI - Communications

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Our values and principles are Excellence in Service, by People Who Care. Your dedication and commitment serve as a vital link in the chain which drives our department. The years of service award symbolizes the time you’ve given to help us as we pursue those values and principles. It is also a token of apprecia- tion for the part you’ve played in making ATCEMS what it is today. Your talents and efforts already have helped us achieve excellence in many areas.

Clinical Specialist A. Price 15 years

Thank

You for your service!

Clinical Specialist S. Anderson on 15 years

T. Mezayek 20 years

Clinical Specialist S. Anderson on 15 years

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Employee Recognition

JOB WELL DONE

Malone, Melody Hindman, Justin

I would like to express my thanks to my fellow rescue heroes for saving my friend’s life.

I am a volunteer EMT with Montgomery County Fire Rescue in Maryland and was in town this weekend for my bachelor party. While swimming in the pool at our Airbnb on Windsor I noticed my friend exit from the pool and look distressed. I asked him what was wrong and he advised he was losing his vision and was experiencing chest pain and began to fall to the ground.

I quickly rushed to his aid, first attempting to determine if he was faking it or not- you see- my friend is affectionately known as “Mad Dog,” and one of the toughest but sweetest friends/colleagues of mine and loves to joke and have a good time when he’s not on the job, so we all thought it was a joke at first. But when I quickly realized it wasn’t, I had my friend call 911 and ask for ALS for an adult male with chest pain. I immediately thought it was cardiac and had another friend who is in EMT class run for my BP cuff and some Aspirin...Mad Dog said he had gotten stung by a wasp approximately 20 minutes prior but denied any allergies and was not presenting with symptoms anaphylaxis. I had a weak radial pulse that was hard to get, his respirations were high but he denied trouble breathing and it was hard to get a BP.

Engine 2 was on scene within minutes- Medic 4 was on scene very shortly after. The engine crew was doing their primary assessment and was also considering allergic reaction but agreed that it might be cardiac and we should get him on the monitor and not administer epi immediately but they had it nearby. At this point he was tachycardic with a low sat but not of us knew his BP.

Paramedics Malone 2698 and Hindman 3025 quickly got Mad Dog into the unit, as I stood by waiting to see what had happened. Turns out his BP was 59/35 ! I was amazed at how hypotensive he was. Para- medic Malone quickly determined it was anaphylactoid and administered two rounds of epi and albuterol, quickly stabilizing Mark who trended upward during transport thanks to your crew. I am grateful for their swift assessment and intervention for our friend, who without knowledgeable and quick EMS intervention would have died. The care throughout the response, transport, and transfer of care from the ED was also impressive and we are also grateful for the quick triage from receiving nurses and doctors. As an EMS provider, I recognize a lot of the calls we run for the low priority sick person who doesn’t *need* EMS intervention can be frustrating. But then sometimes we get those calls that stick with us, where you go home knowing you made a difference. This was one of those. And a lot of times some of these higher priority saves don’t get the recognition they deserve, so I want to make sure that doesn’t happen this time around. I would like to commend your medics for their work yesterday, and sincerely thank them for doing their job with professionalism and saving our friend’s life.

Thank you for your service,

Noah G.

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Dr. Mark Escott Celebrates Three Years with ATCEMS

Congratulations Dr. Mark E. Escott on celebrating 3 years in Austin yesterday. We've come a long way so far and look forward to where the next years continue to take our Department & our practice. "I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together over a short period of time. To all my folks at Austin- Travis County Emergency Medical Services, Austin Fire Department, Travis County, Texas Department of Public Safety, and of course my Office Of The Medical Director - City Of Austin-Travis County staff...Thank you for what you do every day to make our City, County, and State, a better and safer place to live and visit." -Mark Escott

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On Friday, August 23rd, ATCEMS was invited to participate in the Fox Sports Southwest’s Texas Football Days Bus Tour, to kickoff the beginning of football season in Texas! Members of the public were able to make donations to Texas Association of First Responders, in exchange for the opportunity to throw a football and dunk ATCEMS Division Chief Eric Jakubauskas in the dunk tank. ATCEMS Medics from Demand 5 were also in attendance, and even got to dunk their own Chief! We would like to sincerely thank Chief Jakubauskas for volunteering for this assignment and being such a fantastic sport! On duty Clinical Specialist W. Finch , and off duty Medic J. Remson had the honor of dunking Chief J.

Video credit goes to Captain Christa Stedman , great job!

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Employee Recognition

AWESOME

CONGRATS

New Community Relations & Injury Prevention Team Member Cheryl Bakhtiari

John Costantino Keenan Anderson

YOU GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU for everything you guys did Sunday to help my dad, Tom McLemore. He was the diabetic trying to tell jokes while you guys were getting his blood sugar back to a normal level. I wasn’t sure where to find you two so I dropped off this note today at Fire Station 3 on W. 30 th with some Taco Deli. I feel really bad that those guys are scarfing it down right now and you two are the ones who did all the work! Here’s a picture of the card I dropped off as well. As we were explaining when we met unexpectedly Sunday, my dad (who lives in Waxahachie) has really been struggling over the last few months to control his blood sugar. He’s been in the hospital too many times to count. Last week, he got in a bad car accident due to his diabetes, and has- n’t been driving since. My brother had dropped him off in Austin for the weekend so we could hang out and help keep an eye on him until we could come up with a long- term plan and then the bad low happened. There you guys were to swoop in and essentially save his life. It was another wake up call to him and all of us to get even more serious about helping him make some big changes and get his health under control.

Clinical Specialist

Cheryl began her specialty assign- ment with the Injury Prevention team on Monday, August 5, 2019. Cheryl brings a strong sense of community service, commitment, enthusiasm, and a wealth of valuable experience to the team. We are excited to have her join our team and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our Injury Prevention programming and the community as a whole. When you see her out and about please extend your congratulations to her on her new assignment.

KUDOS

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

Erin

Bob Luddy While watching the TV show First Responders, Austin Travis County EMS Paramedic Bob Luddy was seen caring for a domestic abuse victim. I was so impressed by his bedside manner and compassion with this victim. He went above and became an advocate for this victim, who was visibly strangled by her partner. I also praise and thank him for sharing his diagnosis of PTSD. Sharing his story probably gave courage to others to seek help. Mary Ann, fan of TV program First Responders.

OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

ATCEMS Community Outreach/ Injury Prevention section teamed up with Austin 3-1-1 to give a “Care Givers” presentation. This helps to educate when 9-1-1 vs 3-1-1 needs to be utilized. Along with additional information about our emergency lock box and Vial of Life programs. For more info or to schedule a presentation go to our website.

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MEDIC OF THE MONTH

ATCEMS PRIDE Great pics from the annual PRIDE Pa- rade! ATCEMS Medics covered the event medically, were part of the command structure, participated in the parade, and attended the parade. Thank you to all that played a part in making this a safe and fun filled event for all!

Congratulations to St. David's North Austin Medical Center Emergency Department's July Medic of the Month Clinical Specialist James Buono. Staff report that he is always positive and easy to work with. He shows compassion for his patients and team- mates.

Please join us in congratulating Captain Mike McDaniel on being chosen as the St. David's South Austin Medical Center June Medic of the Month!

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WHAT IS... MEMORY Why you forget: five strange facts about the brain

Memory can be a playful thing. It collects minute details from childhood events, yet leaves us wondering where we left our keys.

There are several types of memories, and the brain has a unique way of forgetting each kind. Psychologists have classified various ways by which we forget, and biologists have studied forgetting mechanisms at the cellular level.

They've found that forgetting is normal, and actually vital to how the brain works. Here is a look at the strange facts about how people forget things.

How doorways destroy memory

In one common but mysterious short-term memory failure, people find themselves in a room, with- out remembering why they ended up there. Researchers say, in these circumstances, the doorway may be to blame. The very act of walking through a doorway may hint to the brain that a new scene has started and it should store prior memories away, thereby causing strange memory lapses. "Entering or exiting through a doorway serves as an 'event boundary' in the mind, which separates episodes of activity and files them away," Gabriel Radvansky, a psychologist at the University of Notre Dame, told Live Science in a 2011 interview. "Recalling the decision or activity that was made in a different room is difficult because it has been compartmentalized." But still, mental event-boundaries are useful, because they help us organize our mental time- lines and remember not just where, but when a particular event happened. Mind-erasing activities Although rare, certain activities can result in a temporary memory loss and brain fog, called transient global amnesia. For example, sex has been reported to cause this memory problem, with patients forgetting the past day or so, and having difficulty forming new memories.

People with transient global amnesia suffer no serious side effects, and the memory problems usually disappear in a few hours. But it's not clear how this happens, and brain scans of patients who have had this type of amnesia show no signs of damage to the brain, or signs of stroke.

Memories can live on, even if we can't access them Could forgotten songs continue to live on inside our heads, without us knowing?

In a 2013 report of a strange case in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, researchers described a woman who had musical hallucinations of song that she didn't recognize, but others did.

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