MONROE, Conn. — Richard Bierut and Eva Helmke, two emergency medical technicians for the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service, showed families equipment in and outside of an ambulance in the garage of EMS headquarters at 54 Jockey Hollow Road Sunday.
“This is the stair chair,” Beirut said as he placed his hands on a wheelchair with tracks behind it. “These tracks make it nice and smooth while you go downstairs.”
Then he showed children a stretcher, which moves up and down at the touch of a button. “If you guys want to play with the button, you can,” Bierut said, before a little girl immediately took him up on his offer.
The ambulance tour and equipment viewing was part of the annual EMS Open House, which included educational booths manned by EMS volunteers, dispatchers and representatives from medical organizations, as well as hands-on demonstrations for Stop the Bleed and CPR — and guests learned how to build their own first aid kits.
“So far, so good,” Bella Medaris, community relations chair for Monroe EMS, said of the turnout, as crowds of visitors checked out the booths. “We’ve had several families. We’re expecting more throughout the day and we have an ice cream truck coming later, so that will help.”
An orange Jim’s Ice Cream truck pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later and a line quickly formed at its server window.
Medaris said the Open House is meant to educate the public.
“We want them to know what to do during a medical emergency and what we offer in terms of education,” she said. “A lot of hospitals have their summer safety stuff out. And we have a CPR course and our Stop the Bleed course coming up, and an EMT class in September.”
“Getting to know EMTs makes it less scary if we have to come to their house in an emergency,” Medaris said of another benefit of Sunday’s open house.
Vibhuti Jani taught people how to perform CPR on a baby and an adult with dummies and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), which shocks hearts back into rhythm.
At another booth, Yen Sheehan, an EMT, showed brothers Ryan, 9, and Matthew Rotondo, 11, how to make a tourniquet to stop a bad bleed.
“Apply a lot of pressure and, obviously, call for help when you can,” Sheehan said of advice she shares on stopping a bleed. “And don’t panic. Help is on the way. Stop the bleed is a skill you can learn that will come in handy.”
Lisa Pane, the MVEMS administrator, promoted the Steady Steps Program, which helps prevent serious falls among senior citizens, especially in their homes.
“We want people to be safe and stay in their house,” Pane said. “We can hook them up with special services if they need it.”
Pane said the Monroe Volunteer EMS wants to spread more public awareness about the Steady Steps program. To learn more, call her at 203-452-2826, extension 1601.
Bridgeport Hospital, which is part of the Yale New Haven Health network, had two informational booths staffed by volunteers.
Jason Bresky, R.N. surgery, and Leigh Goodman, the regional manager for EMS, who was also representing the Southwest Connecticut EMS Council, talked about injuries and prevention.
“I’m showing safety across life spans,” Bresky said.
Brochures and children’s activity books dealt with car seat safety, bicycle helmets and prevention of drowning, fires and burns.
One display was of a dummy with a head and chest. It wore a bicycle helmet. “This is Danny,” Bresky said. “Danny started out as a CPR dummy.” The doll has been repurposed for safety demonstrations.
“He had a house fall on him,” Bresky said. “He’s been shot, stabbed, run over. Here, he is talking about bicycle safety.”
Bridgeport Hospital has a stroke education and prevention program. One booth was staffed by Andressa Goncalves, stroke coordinator, and Marianne Scofield, stroke navigator.
Goncalves said they teach people how to recognize signs and symptoms of a stroke, how to prevent them, as well as the importance of calling 911.
Among the symptoms of a stroke are blurred vision, a facial drop, weakness on one side (an arm or a leg), and difficulties with speech.
Aside from educational literature, the women had a raffle, in which people shared things they learned for the chance to win prizes like a bleed kit and a phone charger.
The Southwest Regional Communications Center was represented by its director, Nick D’Antona and a supervisor, A.J. Genovese.
“We dispatch for Monroe EMS, as well as five EMS services and six other fire departments throughout the Fairfield County region,” D’Antona said, “and provide ambulance to hospital communications.”
When 911 calls are answered by local dispatchers, D’Antona said EMS and fire calls are transferred to the Southwest Regional Communications Center, which has more regional resources, enabling it to coordinate for mutual aid easier.
While talking to families at Sunday’s open house, D’Antona said, “the best thing is to teach our children to dial 911, no matter how young — 911 is the first step in emergency services. It’s always important for kids to know what to do in emergencies.”
Shannon Spaulding, an EMS program manager for St. Vincent’s – Hartford HealthCare, said they have school space at 2660 Main St. in Bridgeport and also teach EMT classes at the University of Bridgeport and Sacred Heart University.
On Sunday, she shared information about accessible health care options and injury and fall prevention. Her table had medical cards people could fill out and keep in their wallets, and pocket cards on stroke and heart attack recognition.
Cathi Kellett, programs supervisor, and Claire Osiecki, special programs coordinator, of Griffin Hospital volunteered at a table featuring summer safety tips. Griffin Hospital is part of Safe Kids Worldwide and heads the Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Coalition.
“We’re giving them sunscreen, bracelets, beach balls and coloring books,” Kellett said of children stopping by their table.
There children learned about swimming and pedestrian safety, as well as other safety tips like wearing safety helmets, not playing outside during a lightning storm, keeping a safe distance away from a grill during a barbecue, and not swimming alone.
Among Sunday’s visitors were First Selectman Terry Rooney and State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe.
“This is a great event EMS holds every year,” Rooney said. “There’s always great information here. This is just another example of what they do to always elevate emergency medical services in Monroe.”
“It’s great to see so many kids showing up, as they will be our future volunteer EMS EMTs,” Scott said.
“I’m really thrilled to have our open house today,” said Monroe EMS Chief Craig Rosenberg. “We take such pride in serving the community and it’s great to have the opportunity to show them what we do here. I’m also appreciative of our partners in the region — Bridgeport Hospital, Griffin Hospital, St. Vincent’s and our regional dispatchers. We have them here doing some education and supporting health and well being in the community too. It’s a great day.”
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