Category Archives: EMS Response

Santa Visits Victim of Fire in Somers

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SantaSOMERS — The attached picture is of a mother and daughter who were rescued from a structure fire on December 4, 2013 in a joint effort by several local fire departments and a courageous bystander. ASM’s Johnson Medic (Alpha 5) crew, Don Hart and Ayla Sarles, delivered care with Somers Fire Department once the patients were removed from the building. Read the Patch story here…

Last week Santa arrived to bring them some cheer during a difficult holiday season, courtesy of Somers Fire Department. According to ASM’s Ray Stovall, who took part in the rescue as part of Somers Fire Department, “It was one of the best experiences of my life. The family was so thankful to all involved. Being there restored some faith in humanity. We see so much bad in our jobs that it warmed my heart to see the pure joy on this families face.”

A special note of recognition goes not only to Somers Fire Department but also to Hazardville Fire Department and their Captain Hurley in the rescue of the mother. Ray goes on to say, “As always the Alpha 5 crew did an awesome job on patient care and working with the fire departments on scene.”

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 6

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Aetna Paramedic receives Kudos from the Cath LabFARMINGTON — On October 21, 2013 a Paramedic Unit from Aetna Ambulance (David Noyes and Kelly Shapiro) responded to a sixty-two year old patient with a significant cardiac history, who had been having chest pain for an hour. They did a 12-lead ECG, which revealed a massive inferior infarction. They called in a STEMI Alert to the John Dempsey Hospital ED. Based on their radio patch, Dr. Sasha Gorenbeyn immediately activated the cath lab (16 minutes before patient arrival).

The patient received a heparin bolus in the ED, and then went right up to the cath lab on the EMS stretcher. The patient was found to have a 100% occluded SVG (saphenous vein graft) to the PDA (posterior descending branch). He underwent a successful thrombectomy and stenting restoring perfusion.

He is doing very well thanks to the great job by the combined EMS/Hospital STEMI Team. Kudos also to the staffs of the ICU and cardiac step down for their outstanding re-covery care. 41 Minute Door-to-Balloon time! The patient was discharged home yesterday doing very well. “Thanks again, and extend our compliments to your crew for a job well done.”

*Individually identifiable protected health information has been removed in accordance with Aetna’s HIPAA-related Privacy Policies. 

ASM Responds: Crash involving school bus reported in East Hartford

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Photo courtesy of WSFSB

Photo courtesy of WFSB

By Steven Yablonski, Managing Editor – WFSB

 EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) –

(Read the original WFSB article here) A crash involving a school bus was reported in East Hartford on Wednesday morning.

Few details about the crash have been reported, but officials said the crash was reported along Forbes Street before 8:30 a.m.

Officials with the Ambulance Service of Manchester said it sent four ambulances to the scene, and brought eight people to local hospitals.

ASM officials said six were brought to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, one was brought to St. Francis Hospital and another to Manchester Memorial Hospital.

All injuries were described as “minor”. No other information was released by officials.

Aetna Responds: Minor Mishap At Airport Fly-In

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Note: Aetna Ambulance does NOT provide emergency services to the Town of Simsbury. Aetna’s presence was at the discretion of the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association in accordance with Department of Public Health guidelines. Always dial 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.

By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com

http://www.courant.com/community/simsbury/hc-simsbury-airport-incident-0917-20130917,0,6201629.storyThe Hartford Courant

September 16, 2013

SIMSBURY — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident at Simsbury Airport Sunday morning where an airplane veered suddenly off the runway.

The airplane was arriving at the airport about 10 a.m. as part of it 28th Annual Simsbury Fly-In. The event features airplanes and antique cars.

“The airplane seemed to have landed appropriately, and then for some reason it just veered to the left, and traveled off the runway,” said Simsbury police Capt. Nick Boulter, who was at the fly-in. The plane “traveled toward the first line of classic cars that were lined up there, the made an abrupt turn just before that line and the wing struck a classic VW bus or van. It was very close to the spectator line.”

There were no injuries to spectators or people on board the airplane, Boulter said. Simsbury firefighters, police, an Aetna ambulance crew and fly-in staff reacted immediately, Boulter said. Two Federal Aviation Administration inspectors were at the fly-in and are investigating, he said.

Read the full Courant article here…

ASM Responds: Crash reported on I-84 in East Hartford

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I-84 East Bound CrashEAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – Read the WFSB version here…

A crash was reported on Interstate 84 east in East Hartford on Wednesday morning.

According to Ambulance Service of Manchester, three ambulances were requested to the scene after eight people were reported in a van involved in the crash.

The two left lanes were closed as a result of the crash, and traffic is reported to be heavy in the area.

Minor injuries were reported.

It’s unknown if anyone was injured.

ASM Responds: School Bus Accident on I-84 In East Hartford

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By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY
The Hartford Courant

hc-east-hartford-school-bus-0907-20130906-0017:56 a.m. EDT, September 6, 2013

EAST HARTFORD — Three ambulances have responded to a school bus accident on I-84, according to an ambulance company spokesman.

The accident happened about 7:30 a.m., on I-84 west, near the Connecticut Boulevard ramp. Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC responded, said David Skoczulek of Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

The injuries are minor, he stated in an emailed press release. A small school bus is involved, he said. Damage to the bus is reported to be minor.

It wasn’t clear if the injured occupants are students. Read the Courant article here.

Praise from Hartford Fire Department

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Hartford Fire Department - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.Hartford Fire Department

Department of Fire Service, Engine 8

March XX, 2013

To: Edward Casares, Jr., Chief of Department

Occasionally an email is sent out by the Department asking if members performed exceptionally well at an incident. Today E-8 has such an event. So I would like to advise you of it as well as let you know that the medics themselves arrived to quarters to express their gratitude for our assistance.

The call was for an unresponsive patient. FireHouse documents the particular actions taken. But in essence: E-8 was first on scene, confirmed pulselessness and no respirations, full CPR w/ BVM begun, then assisted Aetna units as they started ALS care. Our collaborative efforts produced a heart rhythm and blood pressure, [Hospital] received the patient, and [he/she] is admitted.

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of Aetna Unit 226: Mike Glazier, EMT, and Sean Piscopiello, Paramedic. As well as the EMTs of the second Aetna unit: Terry Perry, EMT and Ryan Houser, EMT.

Respectfully submitted,

Engine 8, C Tour

ASM Responds: Winter Storm Charlotte

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The Hartford Courant

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com

MANCHESTER — Read the whole article here…Private ambulance providers had similar difficulties. Prevented from close access to many homes, medics had to carry patients, in some cases for 100 yards or more, through thigh-deep snow, Dave Skoczulek, spokesman for Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance Service, said Monday.

Ambulances mired on roadsides and stuck in deep snow banks had to be pulled out with a four-wheel drive paramedic intercept vehicle. Total calls were less than normal, Skoczulek said, “but each call was typically more severe and took much, much more effort and much longer to complete.”

Ambulance Service of Manchester Mercedes Sprinter AmbulanceAt the height of the storm, a patient with chest pains had to be taken from Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. A physician arranged for a plow to escort the ambulance, and there were many other stories of plows paving the way for emergency medical personnel, Skoczulek said.

Another crew in a heavy ambulance equipped with tire chains could not make it over impassable roads with a critical care patient aboard, Skoczulek said. The crew got help from Manchester police and residents, who came over with shovels and snowblowers, he said. Eventually, a backhoe from Ansaldi Construction winched the ambulance back onto a cleared road surface, Skoczulek said.

Blizzard Warnings in Effect for the Entire State

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Storm TrackerPOTENTIALLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM TO IMPACT STATE TODAY AND SATURDAY

Blizzard Warnings are now in effect for the entire state until 1:00 PM Saturday Afternoon.  Blizzard Warnings are issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below ¼ mile for at least three hours which is expected tonight.

This Morning: Light snow developing across the state between 7:00 – 9:00 AM becoming moderate and steady by noon.  Temperatures holding in the upper 20’s in Northern CT and near 30 F along the coast.

This Afternoon: Snow in Northern CT with a mix in Southern CT becoming heavy at times between 1:00 – 3:00 PM with temperatures holding in the upper 20’s in Northern CT and near 30 F at the coast.

This Evening and Overnight: Blizzard conditions with any mixed precipitation changing to all snow by 7:00 PM.  Snowfall rates up to 5” per hour with zero visibilities at times and blowing and drifting snow.  Lows dropping into the low 20’s statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 40 MPH inland and up to 60 MPH along the coast.  Moderate power outages and moderate coastal flooding expected with high tide just before midnight in Western Long Island Sound.

Saturday Morning: Heavy snow tapering to moderate snow from West to East between 7:00 – 10:00 AM.  Strong North Winds gusting to 40 MPH Inland and 50 MPH at the Coast.  Zero visibilities at times with Blizzard Conditions until 10:00 AM.

Saturday Afternoon: Moderate snow tapering off to light snow and ending by 3:00 PM.  Continued blowing and drifting of snow with Northwest winds gusting to 40 MPH at times and ground blizzard conditions at times.

Total snowfall may be historic with 12 – 24” in Western CT, 20 – 36” in Central and Eastern CT and 15 – 30” along the coast.  Isolated amounts to 40” may occur.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest forecasts and will issue another update at 10:00 AM.

This product is a public service of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and is intended for informational purposes only.  DESPP assumes no liability for the use or distribution of this product or any actions resulting from this product.

Aetna Responds: Robbery Suspect Injured After Chase

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Aetna Ambulance Service Responds

Photo Courtesy of WFSB

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A man wanted for a robbery in Vernon has been arrested after leading police on a chase that ended in Hartford.

Police said the suspect robbed the CVS on Talcotville Rd in Vernon early Wednesday morning. After that, police said the suspect led police on a chase through several towns and eventually ended in Hartford.

According to police, the suspect rammed a Hartford police cruiser and a state trooper vehicle before the driver fled on foot. Read the full article here…

ASM Responds: East Hartford Apartment Fire

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EAST HARTFORD— Residents of an apartment on Ellington Road leapt from their windows into the waiting arms of firefighters to escape from a three-alarm blaze early Tuesday.

A dozen people, including three firefighters, were injured, officials said. Five people were hurt, one severely, when they jumped from their windows. Residents of 38 units have been sent to the North End Senior Center on Remington Road.  Read the Courant/Fox CT article here…

East Hartford Apartment Fire- Ambulance Service of Manchester

Photo Courtesy of Hartford Courant – Fox CT

ASM Responds: Motor Vehicle in East Hartford

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Photo Courtesy of the Journal Inquirer

Photo Courtesy of the Journal Inquirer

According to the Journal Inquirer: East Hartford emergency personnel work on a patient from a minor motor vehicle accident on Main Street early Saturday afternoon. The accident was quickly cleared up and didn’t affect traffic for long. (Jared Ramsdell / Journal Inquirer)

“They Literally Saved His Life”

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WETHERSFIELD — Many things had to come together for one 74 year-old patient to survive the morning of October 26th. He needed the rapid dispatch of advanced care. He needed definitive cardiac care. But possibly the most important key to his survival: a skilled EMS team needed to show up at the door.

 Aetna’s Jeff D’Albero, Ashley Kramer and the Aetna Operations Supervisor responded to the 911 call for difficulty breathing. Upon arrival of the crew from Aetna Ambulance, his  breathing was agonal (a last few instinctive breaths) and his heart was in ventricular fibrillation; a non-perfusing, lethal heart rhythm. After intubation, ACLS medications, three rounds of defibrillation and three cardioversions the patient was in a normal, perfusing heart rhythm upon arrival at [Hospital].

The patient’s spouse returned a Patient Satisfaction Survey with the following response:

“The people who responded that day were terrific. They literally saved [his] life. Thank you for the bottom of our hearts.”

Seven days later, and out of pure coincidence, Jeff returned to [Hospital] to transport the same gentleman to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation of the minimal deficits he incurred. Today, the patient is resting and recovering at home. He said, “make sure they know I deeply appreciate what they did.”

Note: The use of details, dates, treatments and other conditions are done with the express written permission of the patient. 

A Tiered System: Volume Two

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Paramedic Intercept ASM Aetna AmbulanceWhy did the EMTs (ambulance) and Paramedics arrive separately?

EMTs are able to perform a specific set of skills that do not include such advanced treatments as IVs, EKG heart monitoring, IV medications, advanced airway techniques, nebulizers and more. Paramedics are required in the treatment of patients with chest pain, difficulty breathing, altered mental status, severe accidents and injuries and many other types of medical emergencies.

Simply put, when a 911 call is received that meets certain criteria, an EMT level ambulance (BLS) and a paramedic service (ALS) are dispatched simultaneously. Upon arrival, if the patient needs any of the treatment listed above, the paramedic will then ride Continue reading →