The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-04-06, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, April 6, 11194 Close-up Residents learn about ambulance BY TIM CUMMING Expositor Editor Perhaps one never realizes how important ambulance attendants are until they're needed. "I don't think a lot of people know how (the ambulance service) works," said Art McNaughton, supervisor of the service in Seaforth. "They know it's here (but) hopefully they don't have to use us." For the fust time the Seaforth ambulance service held an open house on Monday. Although it was the first official open house supervi- sor McNaughton said the public is always welcome to see the facilities and talk to the staff. Monday's event, in which Seaforth-area residents were able to see inside the ambulance and talk to the attendants, was part of National Emergency Services Week. Increasingly, ambulance (or emergency care) attendants will assume certain medical responsibil- ities, said Brad Lucas, owner -oper- ator of the Seaforth-Clinton Ambu- lance Service company. "We're continuously moving towards advanced life support," he said. "That will be our direction." In fact, said Lucas, this might be especially important in rural areas where there are long distances to hospitals. There are 15 employees of the Seaforth-Clinton Ambulance Ser- vice company. In Seaforth there are three full-time ambulance workers as well as four regular part-time staff. There are also three full-time workers in Clinton. Seaforth's full-time employees are Art McNaughton, supervisor; Gary Betties and Bob Watson, emergency medical attendants. The owner of the ambulance service presented the three employees with Blue Jays tickets and a night in Toronto in recognition of their years of service. Gary Betties has been an ambulance attendant since 1969, Bob Watson since 1974 and Art McNaughton since 1977. Working on an ambulance is" a unique occupation, said McNaughton. "You see people at their best and worst," he said. "You see joy, like a newborn baby, and tragedy where somebody dies." The Seaforth station serves a wide area which can stretch as far as Mitchell during the day. Seaforth might answer calls from areas as far as Wingham, Clinton and Zurich. "Out of the central dispatch in London their mandate is to send the closest available ambulance," said McNaughton. For 365 days a year there are always two people at the ambulance station between the hours of 8:00 in the morning to 6:00 at night. Dur- ing off -hours there are ambulance attendants on call available at home via paging services. There are about 800 calls a year in Seaforth, half of which are clas- sified as emergencies. The entire Seaforth-Clinton operation responded to about 1,700 calls in one year. All ambulance calls in this area go through the London dispatch TIM CUMMING PHOTO AMBULANCE SERVICES VIEWED - Seaforth-area residents were able to see the inside of the local ambulance during an open house on Monday. Here, emergency medical attendant Gary Betties, supervisor Art McNaughton and attendant Bob Watson sit inside the ambulance. "It's a unique occupation..." service which will send to ambu- lance vehicles (this policy is to ensure the one with the quickest response time arrives). The attend- ants in the first vehicle then make a judgement call at the acene_whether more ambulance vehicles are needed. In a climate of tightening health care budgets some big -city ambu- lance services have been hit. The local ambulance service, however, has not been adversely affected. "Our budget is cut back but we're able to hold the line," said McNaughton. He said there have been no service or staffing cut- backs. "I think we're at a minimum staffing now." More and more training is required of ambulance attendants. Currently full-time ambulance workers must take an eight-month community college course and write provincial exams. All the full-time employees have completed the college course. People would be amazed at the amount of training the attendants must undergo, said Lucas. "I think people would be very impressed with their qualifications." Residents are urged to have the phone number of the ambulance service handy. "Keep all emergency num- bers...police, fire and ambulance, by the phone," said Lucas. Lung association has campaign April marks The Lung Association's eighth annual Asthma Appeal. "The purpose of the Asthma Appeal is to raise both awareness and funds to continue supporting medical research and community asthma programs," said Clayton Hefley, volunteer president of the Lung Association in Huron - Perth Counties. "Childhood asthma can be frightening for both children and their parents," continued Mr. Hefley. The Lung Association's Airforce Family Asthma Program is designed to help asthmatic children and their parents better understand, manage and cope with the disease. Eleven -year-old Derek Boyd is a graduate of the Airforce program. /0 otelvati Mark Coulthard "MOUSE AND MOLE DAMAGE" Was your lawn a mass of rodent trails early this spring? Trails that run over the grass surface and often contain grassy nests that were made by mice. Moles funnel through the soil and make piles of soil at their bur- row entrances. Cutting grass short for the final mowing provides less protection and is less attractive to mice. Moles usally damage the lawn because they are digging for food. Moles feed on grubs and earthworms. Application of a recommended insect control material can be helpful. Earthworms are beneficial because they provide natural fertilizer and aeration. Rake any rodent damaged areas smooth and reseed if necessary. Damaged areas heal very quickly in early spring. Next Week: Why Aerate Your Lawn? See thls space each week for a valuable Weed Man Turf 11p, `l11aed iS?is►w OODERICH 524-2424 WE CARE FOR YOUR LAWN Proprietors Christine & Mark Coulthard TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-0342 WHAT HAPPENS IF I PHONE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE? •Your call will be answered by a dispatcher in London. •The dispatcher will ask your address, ask what the problem is and then ask for your phone number in case you're discon- nected. •The ambulance is dispatched immediately. •The ambulance phone number in the Seaforth area is 527-1751. It is under 'Ambulance' in the white pages of your Bell and local telephone directories. G. HEARD CONSTRUCTION LTD. •Lawn Rolling 1 Ton Rollers $30.00/HR. plus GST •Farm Lane Grading & Gravelling Call 522-0307 or 1-800-960-1867 EVENINGS COSTELLO-VINCENT Deb Vincent 527-1865 Personal Income Tax Preparation • Starting at 520. • No GST on services. • Guaranteed Income Supplement form completed free of charge when income tax return prepared • Bookkeeping services also available. CALL TODAY! Thank -You We would like to thank everyone who had a part in making our Charter night such a success. Special thanks to all the businesses who adver- tised in our Charter book and to those who donated door prizes. Also to all our fellow Optimists who took the time to spend the evening with us. Thanks also goes to Grace Campbell for the excellent meal, and to Father Hardy and Sister Rita for their help and the blessing of our club. To all the Optimist Clubs in Zone 1, we grate- fully accept all the generous gifts and donations. The gifts will be well "watched". THE OPTIMIST CLUB OF DUBLIN AND DISTRICT, "WATCH US GROW" 10 BUCKS turns . into Cash in your pocket when youadvertise in the Huron Expositor. Wlien it comes to fast advertising results, classifieds rise above all the others. No other form of advertising gets such quick response for so little. leg. Price 4.50 + GST one week (25 words or Tess) 4.00 + GST per week for 2 wee (25 words or Tess) 3.50 + GST per week for 3 wee (25 words or less) •4 weeks •25 words or Tess BUCKS We're Saving You Reg. '14. plus GST .98 = `14.98 - 10 = s4.98 Savings "Find out what Classifieds calf do for you. Call and ask to speak with one of our classified professionals today." 527-0240 We gladly accept 4Eilblitor Tax Included ('repaid 1