Carilion Clinic's New Life-Guard 10 Participates in Shattered Dreams Program

Earlier this week, the Life-Guard 10 crew took our new EC-145 to Riner, VA for Auburn High School's annual "Shattered Dreams" program. This is a mock DUI crash presented by the New River Valley Driving School, along with Christiansburg and Riner Rescue Squad (featuring the Junior Squad), Riner Fire Department, YOVASO, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, VA State Police, Carilion Clinic Life-Guard, Harmon's Service Station, Horne's Funeral Service, and PSK 107.
The goal of the event is to teach high-school teens the dangers of drinking and driving. The Life-Guard crew is proud to be part of this event every year, and would like to thank the volunteers from Christiansburg and Riner Fire & Rescue for making this such a successful event!

CCPT Safety Officer Chosen to Attend International Conference May 13th-15th

We are pleased to announce that our own Safety Officer, Kevin Peters, has been given the distinct honor of being chosen to attend the 2009 RETTmobil (Mobile Rescue) Conference in Fulda, Germany. Kevin is one of 24 people chosen to represent the EMS Safety Foundation at the conference this year. This select group was chosen at an international level, and attendees will be travelling from such countries as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, to name a few.
Kevin's ongoing work with Dr. Nadine Levick, Founder and Research Director, EMS Safety Foundation, allowed him the opportunity for this unique chance to represent Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation at a national level.

About the Conference
RETTmobil is the event for information and further training of emergency service personnel as well as EMS leaders and field rescuers. More than 300 exhibitors, and 20,000 visitors from throughout Europe and internationally were at the 2008 RETTmobil event. There exist many possibilities to experience modern technology, innovative products, practical services, 70,000 square meter of exhibition sites, as well as test tracks in an off-road course on an additional 50,000 square meters of large open areas.
RETTmobil today is a platform for innovations internationally, to the most diverse technical topics from emergency service, medicine, organization, and logistics. Participants will meet colleagues, deepen existing knowledge, test products and become acquainted with the newest innovations.

CCPT, a CAMTS accredited organization, is very proud of our commitment to safety. We are very excited about Kevin's selection for this opportunity, as well as the information he will bring back to our Company, regarding the latest in safety innovations for our industry.
Please join us in congratulating Kevin on this accomplishment as well as wishing him safe travels next week to Germany!

Farewell Celebration for the Bell 412

Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation (CCPT) invites the community to join them as they throw a “retirement party” for the Bell 412.

Friday, April 17th from 5pm-7pm.
o See the Bell 412 up close.
o Take photos with the Bell 412.
o Meet the CCPT flight crews.
o Enjoy food, fun and music provided by Q-99.
o Children are especially welcome.

We are also accepting guests on Saturday, April 18th from 9am-11am.

Since the Carilion LifeGuard medevac program launched in 1981, no aircraft has served the region longer than the Bell 412 helicopter flown as “Life-Guard 10”. From 1990 to today, the 412 has safely flown almost 10,000 patients to their destination and faithfully served her pilots and crew.

For almost 20 years, people in Western Virginia have associated the unique shape of the 412, the low rumble of the twin Pratt & Whitney engines and the distinctive “whomp-whomp-whomp” of the four rotor blades, with a commitment to saving lives.

After a careful review, CCPT determined that patients' future needs would be best served by purchasing a new helicopter to replace the Bell (which is leased from Air Methods).

While CCPT staff will miss the Bell 412, they understand that the new helicopter -- a Eurocopter 145 -- will ultimately be an improvement for patients, with state-of-the-art safety and medical technology on board. The new Life-Guard 10 will also be a bit smaller and faster leading to slightly faster response time and improved safety when landing at the scene of an accident or heart attack.

The Bell 412 will not be scrapped or mothballed! The 412 will be completely refurbished by Air Methods and continue to serve as a civilian transport helicopter.

Read more about Life-Guard at http://www.carilionclinic.org/Carilion/Carilion+Clinic+Life-Guard.

CCPT EMS and Bike Teams Join Breast Cancer Awareness Event

We were proud to support Carilion Clinic's Positively Pink Parade last weekend at Valley View Mall. This is an annual event that raises awareness for breast cancer and is a wonderful venue for both survivors and their loved ones to come together for a great cause. The rainy day didn't stop the enthusiastic crowd from proceeding as planned. CCPT sent several of our finest to provide medical standby coverage as well as cheer everyone on!
Thanks to all who came out and participated. We especially like the show of pink ribbon support-looks like a great addition to our uniform!

CCPT Participates in Local Disaster Drill

***The Following information is related to a DRILL ONLY***

CCPT has currently dispatched 2 ambulances to assist with a Haz-Mat Drill in Roanoke City. Media updates for the drill situations are as follows:

There has been a train derailment along Patterson Avenue in the City of Roanoke. There has been an ammonia release in the 2400 block of Patterson Avenue with the plume moving Southeast across the Norwich area.
Crew are now in the process of evacuating the area in the area of the Norwich community. Evacuees will be taken to Patrick Henry High School. For more details see www.roanokealert.com for updated announcements.

Currently, the CCPT Senior Director is staffing the Carilion Clinic Command Center and the CCPT PIO is staffing the City JIC at the City Manager's office. Check back here for updates also.

Carilion Clinic Life-Guard Connects with Alleghany 911 Centers

Jeff Echternach, PR Coordinator for our Communications Center, was on the road yesterday to visit with our neighboring emergency dispatchers in Alleghany County. We have worked very closely with the Alleghany EMS community over the years, and were excited to deliver our rapid access hotlines (aka "Life-Guard bat phones") to two of their 911 Centers. These direct ringdown phones allow for the 911 dispatchers to contact our Carilion Clinic Life-Guard dispatchers even more seamlessly. By simply picking up the handset, the phone is pre-programmed to automatically put the caller in touch with one of our Carilion Clinic Communication Specialists.
In conjunction with the Carilion Clinic Heart Alert program, Jeff has been out working hard providing excellent educational seminars for the E911 dispatchers on the basics of activating a Carilion Clinic Life-Guard helicopter for their area emergencies. "Making the call for a helicopter is not something a 911 dispatcher does every day", says Robin Hall, Alleghany County E911 Supervisor. "If you're not prepared for the phone call, it can make things very difficult".
Our Dispatcher training prepares dispatchers for all types of medevac response needs: from acute heart attacks, to motor vehicle accidents, to acute strokes....any call where time can make a critical difference in a patient's outcome.
Jeff was able to visit with the Alleghany dispatchers and learn more about their operations as well. While showing some of the staff the new phone, Police Chief Barry G. Balser commented, "I'm glad that Clifton Forge is able to partake in this technology...but when can we upgrade to the "Bat-Light" that shines your logo in the sky??" (Don't laugh, Chief Balser..we kind of like that idea!)
We value the excellent working relationships we have with all of our partnering dispatchers. If your local Communications Center is interested in scheduling training with our crew or would like to inquire about installing a hotline phone, please contact our Business Development Office at (540) 981-8303.

Rolling Safety Stand Down for Carilion Clinic Life-Guard

As many of you are aware, our air medical community experienced a significantly tragic incident last week in Arizona. This event and other recent air medical incidents are still under investigation by the NTSB and FAA. Carilion Clinic Life-Guard, along with many other members of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), voluntarily took time out from our busy schedules last Wednesday to hold a "Rolling Safety Stand Down". During this time, our air medical staff, aviation staff, administration, and communication specialists gathered to conduct a focused quality and safety review. We examined our culture of decision making and how these processes could affect the potential for human errors in our daily operations. Our discussions especially focused on the principles of Air Medical Resource Management (AMRM) and how we can all communicate better as a team. At the end of the meeting, staff members signed a form indicating everyone's personal commitment to the AMRM principles.
The entire staff of Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation is committed to providing safe, quality patient care to the communities in which we serve. Our thoughts and condolences go out to all of those who were affected by our air medical community's recent tragedies.