Influenza Advisory

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Office of Emergency Medical ServicesTO: All EMS Care Providers

FROM: Raphael M. Barishansky, Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services

This year’s influenza or “flu” season has been producing a high number of cases. This communication highlights the scope of the problem and reminds providers to take all appropriate precautions to limit the spread of this illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have classified this year’s seasonal flu as an epidemic, with 47 states reporting widespread flu activity. The following are some Connecticut-specific statistics that DPH has collected and analyzed as of 1/09/2013:

  • The percentage of outpatient visits with influenza-like illness (ILI – defined as a cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause, and the presence of a fever > 100° F) is almost twice that of the previous two flu seasons
  • There have been more persons hospitalized with influenza-associated illness during the past five weeks than the entire 2011-2012 flu season.
  • There have been 55% more reports of positive laboratory tests for influenza for the first three weeks of this flu season compared to the entire 2011-2012 season.
  • Respiratory influenza activity has most commonly peaked in February, so we may continue to experience a serious influenza season for some time to come. OEMS recommends that you review information on influenza as well as your respiratory protection plans.
  • Information is available on the CDC and CT DPH flu websites. The following are some tips to protect from influenza transmission:

GET VACCINATED! While it is ideal to receive the influenza vaccine earlier in the season, it is still of benefit to obtain a vaccination now.
BE PREPARED. Check your service’s inventories: N95 masks; simple surgical masks; alcohol-based hand sanitizer; ambulance decontamination spray
WASH YOUR HANDS! Wash them upon arrival for shift; before and after eating; after ANY contact with ANY patient; if you have worked on computers at the hospital; after ambulance decontamination.
WEAR PPE CONSISTENTLY. Follow droplet precautions in accordance with your respiratory protection plan. Consider having patients presenting with ILI symptoms wear a simple surgical mask or oxygen mask.
THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION. Don’t forget: Stretcher straps, ceiling hand rails, door handles, driver’s compartment surfaces, portable & fixed O2 tanks, stairchair, jumpkits, toughbooks and clipboards.

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’s Alpha Five: Volume 5: The New Alpha Five

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Ambulance Service of Manchester: Johnson Memorial Medical Center - Stafford Springs, CT“Johnson Medic” transitioned into a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance.

STAFFORD SPRINGS — As of January 11, 2013, the Johnson Medic, also known as Ambulance Service of Manchester’s (ASM) Alpha Five will be operating a brand new Mercedes Sprinter. The vehicle replaces the 2007 Ford that has been stationed at Johnson Memorial Medical Center for since it came into use.

The Mercedes Sprinter has many upgrades from the Ford, including LED interior and emergency lights, improved fuel economy, increased leg room, high visibility Battenburg and rear chevron markings, increased patient compartment headroom, ergonomic equipment mounting, sliding side entry and more.

Ambulance Service of Manchester: Johnson Memorial Medical Center - Stafford Springs, CTAlpha Five is the first Paramedic Unit at ASM to transition to a Mercedes and the last to have operated a Ford. All other Paramedic Units are operating Dodge Sprinters. To learn more about the Johnson Medic program, click here… Continue reading →

Checking Back Often? Subscribe to the Blog

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Blog readers often tell themselves that they will “check back often.” There is an easier way. Keep up with Aetna and ASM events, partnerships and news by subscribing to the blog subscribe through the Entree RSS Feed, located near the bottom of the right side bar on the main blog page. Or, click on the following link: http://asm-aetna.com/blog/feed/

Subscribing simply entails receiving an email with each new blog post. Items are posted about 1-2 times per week and the emails do not include any advertising or other spam.

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)

State Police Toy Drive: Gallery 2 – Newington

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Note: Aetna Ambulance does NOT provide emergency services to the Town of Newington. Always dial 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.

NEWINGTON — Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester were part of the team in the 16th Annual Connecticut State Police “Stuff-a-Cruiser” Toy Drive. The Toy Drive aims to provide a toy to each child seen at Connecticut Children’s throughout the year. This year’s haul was over $10,000 in cash for Child Life Services and over 50,000 toys.

State Police Toy Drive: Gallery

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HARTFORD — Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester were part of the team in the 16th Annual Connecticut State Police “Stuff-a-Cruiser” Toy Drive. The Toy Drive aims to provide a toy to each child seen at Connecticut Children’s throughout the year. This year’s haul was over $10,000 in cash for Child Life Services and over 50,000 toys.

Click Continue Reading for more photos…

CCMC - Ambulance Service of Manchester - Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Continue reading →

This Week: State Police Toy Drive to Benefit Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

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HARTFORD — Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester have once again been asked to take part in the annual Connecticut State Police “Stuff-a-Cruiser” Toy Drive to benefit Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

The Toy Drive (or “Stuff-an-Ambulance”) is open for collection at the Manchester, Newington and West Hartford locations of Toys R Us on the following dates and times:

  • Thursday 12/13: 4:00 pm-10:00 pm
  • Friday 12/14: 4:00 pm-10:00 pm
  • Saturday 12/15: 9:00 am-10:00 pm
  • Sunday 12/16: 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Connecticut State Police, Aetna and ASM hope to collect enough toys in one weekend to give a toy to every child seen at Connecticut Children’s throughout the year.

Organizations or individuals that are interested in donating toys to this cause should call (860) 647-9798 x 249 for details or to arrange to have toys picked up at their location. 

“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. 

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 5

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Kudos from the Cath Lab

Kudos from the Cath Lab

Field Care: The story says it all… Sunday 8:00 am. According to Aetna Ambulance Service Supervisor Paramedic Joyce Valentukonis:

  1. Assigned to Aetna 201, Alpha/Monitor 6,
  2. The 12-lead was transmitted with success and then a radio patch notifying of a STEMI alert was given.
  3. Just prior to arriving the patient went into cardiac arrest.
  4. The patient was resuscitated upon arrival of parking lot (eyes open and talking). In the hallway, patient went into cardiac arrest again.
  5. As of today: patient is extubated and talking.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): EMS-to-balloon time: 61 minutes.

The patient’s spouse returned a Patient Satisfaction Survey with perfect scores and a note that says, “Thank you for saving my husband’s life.”

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 →

A Note About Aetna Ambulance’s Past

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Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

“I was surfing the Internet and chanced upon Aetna Ambulance’s page. I was sorry to learn of the passing of Herman and Jean Grady. I knew them back in the late ’70s and early ’80s when I was employed as Communications Coordinator for the North Central Connecticut EMS Council. Of all the ambulance providers I knew and worked with, they were about the nicest and most cooperative folks you could ever have hoped to meet.” 

– Michael McMurtrey, Carrollton, TX

Learn more about Aetna’s history here…

Bolton Brownies Learn About the Role of EMS and the Ambulance

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BOLTON, CT – Brownie Troops 10635 and 10636 in Bolton (about 40 second and third graders) are currently working on earning a First Aid Badge.  One of the requirements is to speak with a First Responder and Troop Leaders expressed that the girls were really interested in seeing an ambulance.

“On behalf of Brownie Troops 10635 and 10636, I would like to thank you for your teams for their time.  The girls really enjoyed asking questions and have gained a real appreciation for the responsibilities of First Responders. Thank you again.”

– Sue, Troop Leader

NOTE: Within the Town of Bolton, ASM responds to medical emergencies in conjunction and cooperation with Bolton Fire Department (BFD). ASM provides ambulance and paramedic services for requests that come in via the 911 system. BFD is the designated First Responder and provides all rescue and fire suppression services to the Town of Bolton. In the event of an emergency, always dial 911.