At dinner last night we were talking about a man who collapsed
on a street in Portland, Maine on Christmas Eve and how someone stopped to help
him until the EMTs arrived. Today the man is back to living a normal life.
We take for granted that when there is a medical emergency an
ambulance with trained personnel will be there ASAP to help. They’ll not only
transport people to the nearest hospital, but they will perform procedures to
help the victim survive while on the way.
It wasn’t until the early 1970's that a need for emergency
personnel became an issue in Portland, Maine. A committee was established to
look at setting up MEDCU, a new emergency response system designed to help
people – not just transport them to the hospital. Before that, people were often
transported in the back of a police car, a “Paddy Wagon,” or sometimes in a
hearse to the hospital, and help was not administered until they arrived.
Today, EMTs, or Emergency Medical Technicians, are trained
to administer IVs, give injections, administer life support, and more. Improved
communication systems allow physicians to give directions to EMTs while en-route to the hospital.. The training
is rigorous and requires hundreds of hours of education and often state certification.
Helping people feel better is a great profession. Thankfully
there are people who are willing to become EMTs and do this important job.
|
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At
Maine Warmers we provide products that help people feel better.
Al-The-Gator brings
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Cozy Sheep warm beds on cold winter nights and help stimulate circulation when physical activity is limited
due to illness or surgery.