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ECSI Connections: The Emergency Care and Safety Institute Newsletter
Winter 2009 Copyright 2009 Emergency Care and Safety Institute
Contents
Letter from Chair | The Big Picture | News and Announcements | Featured Article
Tech Tips | Medical Journal Abstracts | In the News | Educational Center Spotlight | International Spotlight
Corporate Sponsor Spotlight | Upcoming Conferences for ECSI/Jones and Bartlett Publishers
Web Sites of Interest | Article Submission

Letter from Chair

Submitted by Dave Magruder, 2009 National Advisory Committee Chairperson

I would first like say how humbled I am to have been asked to chair the 2009 ECSI National Advisory Council. It is truly an honor for me and with your help we will all grow ECSI to be the largest and best provider of lifesaving training and education worldwide. I accepted this position only after being a part of last year's Council chaired by Craig Spector. Craig and the Advisory Council members proved to me that opinions, suggestions, and ideas from ECSI members from around the United States and Canada can truly make a difference. I thank Craig and the 2008 Advisory Council members for their support.

As we begin 2009 we have all heard the slogans like "Change" and "Yes We Can." 2009 will definitely be different than years past. Change is inevitable and we all will have to adapt to things being a little different for a while. As instructors we may be forced to deal with reduced training budgets, higher unemployment rates, and increased stress. If we all accept "Yes We Can" then we all will still make a difference in people's lives. ECSI was created because change was necessary in our industry, so remember that ECSI programs allow for just that. Be creative. Adapt to your clients' and organizations' needs. Realize that "Change" can sometimes be good. With your continued support and the support of ECSI we will make a difference, "Yes We Can!"

I am excited to be the National Chairperson this year and hope to work along with you to continue the growth and development of ECSI. We continue to be an outstanding leader in our field because of our strengths—ease of use, pricing, quality, customer service, and forward thinking. We need to remain committed to moving forward stronger than ever. I would like to congratulate all of those working toward making ECSI's programs the preferred programs for all agencies and instructors.

As always, the National Advisory Council and National Faculty are here for you to help guide the continued success of ECSI and to be resource consultants for all of ECSI's Instructors and Educational Center Coordinators.

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The Big Picture

Submitted by Dr. Larry Newell, ECSI National Executive Director

We need your help!

Looking back at 2008, we see the great strides that ECSI has made over the year, including the addition of more than 300 new Education Centers. This growth continues to occur because of our solid "4 P's": products, programs, pricing, and performance (especially in customer service and marketing). While it is comforting to dwell on the success of a past year, it is more difficult to face the financial realities of an uncertain new year and the many business decisions that must be considered. We recognize the issues facing all of our Education Centers in 2009, and it is one of the reasons why we decided to hold our 2008 prices for the first six months of 2009. With the assistance of our new 2009 National Advisory Council, and our esteemed National Faculty members, we have a larger group of experts than ever before to aid you. Along with our full-time staff, we all remain committed to helping you grow your business even in the potentially slower economic times of 2009, and we feel this can definitely be achieved.

As you consider your own business strategies for 2009, think about these 4 P's that can help you increase your exposure and business:

Products. What products (or services) that you currently offer are going to be in higher demand in your area in a slow economy? What new products could you offer to better fit the needs of select customers in this slow economy?

Pricing. Raising your prices for services could improve your profit margins, but it could also result in lost customers who are looking for more competitive pricing. Lowering your prices will certainly reduce your profit margins, but may create attractive opportunities for larger customers that you believe will be willing to pay more in the long run. Holding your current prices, but being more willing to negotiate a lower price may also help you land new business. Work with your customers to help them get through these same tough times and they will be loyal to you in the future. Check to see what your competitors are offering in services and the prices they are advertising. Then be more competitive.

Perception. Make sure that your business is being perceived by customers in the proper light. Are you viewed as providing added value for the price? Identify ways to improve your company's position, such as improving your Web site (or establishing one—this can easily be done for under $100 and get you greater visibility).

Proposal. When providing a proposal for services to a new or existing customer you should have four solid reasons why it makes financial, educational, and operational sense to shift from another provider to your company.

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ECSI's Announcements

The 2009 ECSI Catalog and Member Guide is available now! ECSI Educational Centers should expect to receive a copy in the mail shortly. Electronic versions with and without pricing will also be available for download on the ECSI Web site.

Link: The 2009 ECSI Catalog and Member Guide

Over 250 new online courses, including OSHA-10 and OSHA-30, are now available through an exciting partnership between ECSI and ClickSafety. These online programs are now available at reduced prices to our ECSI Educational Centers. Please contact an ECSI representative for more details.

ClickSafety

ECSI's Fleet Driver Safety Instructor's ToolKit CD-Rom is available to pre-order (ship date approximately March 15, 2009). The Fleet Driver Safety program provides drivers with skills to operate safely on the roads, the ability to protect themselves from injury and accidents, and the knowledge to best represent the company for which they drive. The course covers defensive driving strategies and incidence avoidance, basic traffic laws and procedures, and more. This is a 4-hour program.

Link: Learn more about Fleet Driver Safety

The Oxygen Administration Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM is in stock now. This 1- to 1.5-hour course addresses the use of oxygen in emergency situations by laypersons and professional responders. Key topics discussed include the components that make up an emergency oxygen system, various types of oxygen delivery devices, and important safety, storage, service, and maintenance steps regarding the use of supplemental oxygen.

Link: Oxygen Administration Instructor's ToolKit

The entire Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention program is now available, including the Instructor's ToolKit CD-ROM and course completion card. This program was developed to help coaches and athletic trainers manage the common emergencies they will likely encounter while coaching their sport. The course includes coverage of the phases of injury and the injury prevention model, prevention tips for sports-related injuries common to specific sports, and appropriate treatment for common injuries and illnesses.

Link:Sports First Aid and Injury Prevention

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If you are using a MAC computer and are having difficulty with the current card-printing software, we are pleased to provide you with a simple Excel card-printing spreadsheet to use as a workaround. This Excel spreadsheet can be downloaded from the Members Area of the ECSI Web site. We would like to thank Kris Krogstad of A Life to Save for making this available to our members.

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In the News

Submitted by Alton Thygerson, FAWM

Leesville, IN—A quick-thinking woman put her lifeguard experience to good use, saving herself and her two small daughters after their car slid off a road into a deep, frigid pond. As the car was sinking, the woman was able to free the girls from their car seats and get them out the driver's side window.
Source: Associated Press, January 9, 2009

Malad, ID—A photographer used an extension cord to rescue an angler from a frozen reservoir. The 78-year-old fisherman said he fell through the ice on Devil Creek Reservoir while searching for a good spot to fish. The rescuer, who was driving home from a photo shoot, used an extension cord to pull him to safety.
Source: Associated Press, December 21, 2008

Anchorage, AK—A hiker in the Brooks Range was rescued after issuing a long-distance distress call with his global positioning satellite (GPS) unit. A personal locator beacon control center in Texas picked up the call. The GPS signal gave his isolated location and the man was rescued, frostbitten, but otherwise fine.
Source: Associated Press, December 1, 2008

London—A woman has told a British court that she unintentionally flushed her newborn down the toilet because she didn't realize she was giving birth. The woman said she knew she was pregnant but thought the pain she suffered was from diarrhea. She told the court in Wales that she only realized what had happened when she saw a foot in the toilet bowl. She said she tried unsuccessfully to revive the baby and then put the body in the trunk of her car.
Source: Associated Press, November 25, 2008

Luray, VA—A 16-year-old employee of a small Virginia zoo is recovering after a tiger bit her when she tried to pet it. The girl lost her pinky finger and had cuts on her hand. She was showing a 5-year-old Bengal tiger to visitors when it bit her through its cage. The zoo owner said that the tiger grabbed the girl's hand, then got spooked and bit her when a visitor jumped over a fence to help.
Source: Associated Press, November 20, 2008

Long Island, NY—A fifth-grader knew what to do when a friend began choking. The 10-year-old remembered the basics of the Heimlich maneuver from a doughnut store poster he had seen months earlier, his dad said. The rescuer put down his sandwich as classmates looked on in horror. He encircled his pal's abdomen and executed four thrusts that dislodged the food.
Source: Associated Press, November 6, 2008

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Medical Journal Abstracts

Submitted by Alton Thygerson, FAWM

Emergency Care Gets a C-

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) published a report card on the state of US emergency care. The national grade is a C-. Grades were given nationally and for each state in five categories. Nationally, the grades were a D- for Access to Emergency Care, a C+ for "Quality & Patient Safety Environment," a C- for "Medical Liability Environment," a C for "Public Health & Injury Prevention" and a C+ for "Disaster Preparedness," according to the report. Eric Berger said that "the purpose of the report is not to shock or surprise emergency physicians. The point, rather, is to forcefully remind Americans—the general public, politicians, and decision- makers—that the country's emergency medicine system remains perilously close to collapse in a number of states, and in critical condition elsewhere."
Source: 2009. Annals of Emergency Medicine (January). Worldwide Snakebites

More than 400,000 people are poisoned by snakebites worldwide each year and 20,000 of them die, with most cases occurring in the poorest countries. "Based on the fact that envenoming occurs in about one in every four snakebites, between 1.2 million and 5.5 million snakebites could occur annually," wrote the research team from the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka. Data on snakebites is far from comprehensive as most of them happen in places with poor healthcare systems and where record-keeping is generally poor or nonexistent. For this study, the researchers searched through 3256 published articles and extracted data on 68 countries.
Source:2008. Public Library of Science Medicine(November 7).

Dog Bites

Dog bites are a substantial public health problem, disproportionately affecting children. Between 2001 and 2003, an estimated 4.5 million Americans, or 1.5% of the US population, were bitten by dogs each year, and 885,000 sought medical care for their dog bite. The bite rates for children aged 0-14 years have decreased by 47% since 1994; the rates for adults have not decreased. Among both children and adults, having one or more dogs in the household was associated with a significantly increased incidence of dog bites. The authors of this report made several recommendations such as promoting responsible dog ownership (including training, socializing, and spaying/neutering of dogs), increasing knowledge about how to behave around a dog (e.g., do not run from a dog), and supporting animal control efforts.
Source: 2008. Injury Prevention (October 1).

EMS Workload in Utah's National Parks

The state of Utah has succeeded at becoming a magnet for outdoor recreation pursuits. Utah is also viewed as a capital for US national parks because the state plays host to five national parks, five national monuments, one national historic site, and a major national recreation area. This study found, between 2001 and 2005, 4762 EMS incidents reported in these areas. The University of North Dakota researchers therefore concluded that there was heavy use of EMS resources.
Source: 2008. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine (September)

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Featured Articles

Having a Blast with BLAST!

Submitted by Annie McCann-Dupree, Make Prevention First

BLAST!As a former fire fighter and paramedic, I have used other babysitter programs before. When I first read about the AAP's BLAST! training program, I was instantly excited about it. I envisioned the flexibility to tailor the program's delivery to each community's needs, as I feel very strongly about giving back to our local towns and neighborhoods. In the Greater Cleveland and Akron, Ohio areas, we have extremely varying economic and culturally diverse populations.

In Cleveland, I approached the school board and presented the details of the program, and they became very excited about the opportunity for a more practical, functional program for their youths. In addition to having fact-based, no-nonsense training in babysitting, it served the "latch key" children—or children left to care for themselves and siblings after school until their working parent(s) return home—with valuable information to keep them safe. Our intent was to have the school system pay for these children to attend the BLAST! course presented in their individual schools. Funding concerns have delayed these plans, but we're pursuing private classes to be held in local churches and other venues.

In our own local community, I have had great success with BLAST! by developing it into a community project involving other professionals to educate the children. Here are some examples of how local professionals can get involved in teaching portions of the course:

  • As They Grow: Ages and Stages—have a pediatric physiologist teach this core information.
  • A Few Important Points and When A Stranger Calls—your county sheriff's or police department would love to get involved!
  • House Safety and Fire Safety—local fire departments are eager to share this information.
  • Diapering/Crying and Preparing for Bed—nurses from local health departments and hospitals have a wealth of knowledge in this area.

If you are not comfortable with teaching any of these subjects, don't be afraid to ask local officials, community leaders, physicians organizations, hospitals, Chambers of Commerce, Health Departments, etc. for help. Many of them are required (for different reasons) to spend time educating in the community, and your students will really benefit from the exposure.

  • Because my classes run eight hours, I have developed a relationship with a buffet restaurant with a meeting room that waives the meeting room fees and allows the children to have breakfast and lunch (included in the course fees).
  • I have purchased a number of life-sized baby dolls from two to six months of age for the class, and had them "weighted" to seem even more real. They laugh, coo, and cry like real babies.
  • All graduates receive their certificate and a Sesame Street "Babysitter"s Bag" that I put together that includes a basic first aid kit, a wallet size Save A Life card from ECSI, a bottle of hand sanitizer, a packet of facial tissue, and the BLAST! manual

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Know the signs and Act Quickly to Treat Heart Attack Victims

Submitted by Keith Murray, The CPR School

Man, ECG, HeartAccording to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. That is why it is important to reduce risk factors, know the warning signs, and train crews how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.

What can cause a heart attack? Some causes are preventable and are linked to diet and lifestyle. Other causes are due to genetics, infections, or factors beyond our control. Major risk factors leading to the 2500 heart disease related deaths per day in the United States include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress. Possible triggers can be exertion or excitement.

How do you recognize a heart attack? Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. The person may also experience discomfort in one or both arms, their back, or their neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath is often associated with the chest discomfort, however it may occur first. Other symptoms include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

It looks like a heart attack. Now what? The first thing you must do is radio or call for help. When a heart attack strikes, time is critical. The longer it takes the victim to get to the hospital, the greater the amount of damage that will occur to the heart muscle. Doctors only have a few hours to restore the blood supply to the heart muscle by unblocking the affected heart artery. Treatments such as the administration of clot-busting drugs to dissolve the clot must be done in a hospital.

Until you get the victim to the hospital, help him/her to a comfortable resting position. If the victim is alert, is able to swallow, and is not allergic to aspirin, give one adult aspirin or 2-4 chewable children's aspirin. If the person has prescribed medication such as nitroglycerin, help them take some. Medical oxygen can also be helpful to most people having a heart attack

What if their heart stops and they stop breathing? That's cardiac arrest. This is where knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is important. Unlike the typical heart attack where the person can speak, a victim in cardiac arrest is essentially dead. Cardiac arrest has various causes including heart attack, choking, drowning, and electrocution. Treat cardiac arrest by first sending someone to get medical help and to bring you an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Meanwhile, begin CPR.

Pressing on the middle of the victim's chest between the nipples at a rate of 100 compressions per minute will force the heart to move blood and oxygen to the body. CPR will buy time until you can shock the victim with the AED and get him/her to a hospital.

In closing, here are some heart facts to consider during National Heart Month:

  • A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.
  • Your heart is about the size of your fist and the average adult heart weighs about 10 ounces (280 grams).
  • Your heart beats 100,000 times and pumps about 1900 gallons (7200 liters) of blood every day.
  • Three years after a person quits smoking, their chance of having a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked.
  • The right lung is larger than the left because of the placement of the heart.
  • The human heart can create enough pressure to squirt blood up to 30 feet.

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Tech Tips

"The Power of Podcasts"

Submitted by Bill Kimball, ECSI Distance Education Manager

KimballI love podcasts. I'm subscribed to receive everything from "Meet the Press" to "Engadget" (my geek fix), and take my iPod whenever I'm on the go.

If you don't already know, a podcast is a digital audio or video file which can be distributed online through direct download, RSS feed, by subscription (think iTunes), or simply streamed on the internet. The term "podcast" is derived from the combination of "iPod" and "broadcast" yet, it's a bit of a misnomer since you don't actually need an iPod. Any MP3 player, or computer, will do the trick. As such, podcasts are accessible to the masses, which is always a good thing.

Specific to this audience, ideas such as recording a lecture or interviewing a vendor at a trade show about relevant training products come to mind. Aside from the ease of creation, the beauty of podcasting comes from their inherent portability.

Before we get started, you'll need a few things. Chief among them are a digital voice recorder, computer (PC or Mac), and an editing application—all of which are covered below.

Format

I'm actually not referring to the audio file itself, but rather the layout of your presentation. A good podcast is one which keeps the listener interested.

Once you've decided on a topic, you should consider a few other factors:

  • How long will the podcast be?—Typically 25-30 minutes is more than enough time, however, you need to make the podcast long enough to be effective. In other words, if your topic needs 45 minutes to cover then create a 45-minute podcast—The key is to plan accordingly.
  • Will you be flying solo, or have a co-host?—Perhaps I'm the only one annoyed by Regis and Kelly in the A.M., but it can't be ignored that audiences respond to a dynamic duo. Don't be afraid to share the microphone with another.
  • Scripted or completely off the cuff?—Unless you're spontaneously doing an interview, classroom-based lecture, or you just like winging it, create a script for all participants (main speaker, guests, co-hosts, and interviewees). It helps keep the podcast on track and will lend itself to a more polished (sans ahs and ums) presentation.
  • Once you have your script in hand, I'd recommend a tool called Podcast Autocue v.1.1—your evening news anchor uses a teleprompter to sound spiffy, and so can you!

  • Intros and Outros—To help give your episode character (in addition to creating an "identity" listeners can associate with your episodes), adding music for both the intro and outro is always a good idea. A safe place to find free (and legal) music tracks is Podsafe Audio.

Episode Outline

While I'd love to lay claim to this, the folks over at Apple put together an excellent outline for podcasts 20-30 minutes in duration—I changed some of their recommendations, because, what do they know they're only Apple, right? Remember, this is merely a guide, not a set of rules:

  1. Intro monologue—A 30-60 second bit describing who you are and what you want to talk about.
  2. Intro music—Repeat this 30-60 second piece of music for each show so that listeners can identify the jingle with your show.
  3. Section #1—Generally a 10 minute segment that can be broken down into two 5 minute segments if desired.
  4. Interlude—An optional 30 second break, usually in the form of music.
  5. Section #2—A 10 minute segment that can be broken down into two 5 minute segments if desired.
  6. Closing remarks—Two minutes to thank the audience and guests, and talk briefly about the next show.
  7. Closing music—Another 30-60 second piece of music; it is helpful to repeat the Intro jingle here.

Portable Recording

While purists might disagree, there are really three key things to look for in a portable recorder.

  • Portability—If it won't fit in a shirt pocket, it won't be with you when you feel the need to spontaneously make a recording. Believe it or not, most cell phones will do in a pinch.
  • Feature set—Look for USB 2.0 connectivity, decent battery life (the Olympus 4100 I use will record for 25 hours on two AAA batteries), and if possible, options to expand the memory.
  • External microphone jack—It's definitely useful to have the 3.5 mm "mini-jack" connection.

Computer-based Recording

Other options include recording a session using Voiceover IP (VOIP). My program of choice is Skype with the Pamela Recorder plug-in. Another option, provided by Gabcast, is to simply "phone in" the podcast using nothing more than a standard telephone, pretty cool indeed.

Editing

Once you've recorded the podcast, you'll want to clean it up a bit, remove dead air, add voice layovers, inject music and sound effects, or equalize the volume levels (great for compensating between separately recorded segments). My program of choice is Audacity Audio Editor.

Publishing

Now it's time to share your podcast with the world. If you have your own Web site (or Web server), the easiest thing to do is simply upload it like any other file. If you don't have access to a Web server, you can upload to a service called Ourmedia.org—it's free and offers a fair amount of options with regard to hosting and creating RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds. A fee-based service, Liberated Syndication (LibSyn) offers a great lineup of services for a relatively inexpensive monthly rate (as of January, 2009, a basic plan was $5.00 per month) for blog-based podcasting.

Once you've got your podcast(s) uploaded you have the option of adding them as part of a Web site, blog, or to a podcast directory (allowing users to subscribe to them). The best known directory, iTunes, is easy to list with for free. Others such as Podcast Blaster, Podanza, Podomatic, and even NPR (although currently offering a very small directory) are similarly easy to list with.

Wrapping Up

I know many instructors who are successfully incorporating their podcasts into the classroom using nothing more than the tools listed above. Of course a few others have professional setups with dedicated staff—a few such examples (which also happen to be personal favorites of mine) would be Studio A, MedicCast, and the Mitigation Journal Regardless of whether you walk around with a portable recorder, or you set up a professional studio, podcasting is a fun, simple, and quick way to create educational material for today's students. As the number of mobile learners increases, so does the need for portable learning materials.

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Pet Ponderings

Submitted by Elaine Acker, CEO, Pets America

Proper Identification can be a Lifesaver for Lost Dogs

Pets AmericaWhen burglars broke into April Castro's Texas home last week, they took more than just the usual electronics and jewelry. They took her four-legged family member, a Maltese named Frankie. According to the American Kennel Club, cases of dog theft are on the rise, and veterinarians suggest that you make every effort to be sure your pets can be identified. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 30% of pet owners have lost their pet at some point, and many veterinarians believe that up to 90% of pets that are lost are never reunited with their owners.

"Pets get separated from their owners for a number of reasons," says Dr. Susan Culp, Pets America Board Chair."Some are stolen, like Frankie, but many others simply wander away from their owners on an outing or escape from the yard." Culp suggests that having multiple methods of identification can be key to a happy reunion.

  1. Add a tag—Low-cost tags with additional contact numbers can be an important addition to the traditional veterinary rabies tag. Also, add a tag with local contact numbers when traveling.
  2. Get a microchip—The cost of microchips has dropped dramatically, and the information stored on the rice-sized chip implanted between your pet's shoulder blades can help veterinarians and shelters make sure your pet gets home safely. Just be sure to keep your registration information updated with the microchip company.
  3. Keep up-to-date photographs on file—If your pet goes missing, up to date photographs can make it easy to get the word out fast.

Castro has used her photos of Frankie to post flyers and to spread the word in the media. She is still hoping for that happy reunion.

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Educational Center Spotlight

The CPR School, LLC

Submitted by Keith Murray

The CPR SchoolLocated in Jupiter, Florida, The CPR School, LLC recently completed CPR, AED, and First Aid training classes for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Unlike many government jobs where the employees work inside air-conditioned offices, many of these workers are out in the hot Florida sun inspecting orange groves and other crops. Because USDA employees are at risk to many hazards while out in the field, The CPR School was called in to educate these workers on heat-related and other emergencies using ECSI's course materials.

As a former firefighter and EMT, and now owner and lead instructor at The CPR School, I'm no stranger to CPR. I recently had to use CPR skills while traveling home from vacation with my girlfriend. I was in line waiting to board a flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when the AED alarm sounded two gates away. I quickly ran down to investigate and found an unresponsive man on the ground who was already receiving chest compressions and rescue breaths. However, the AED was not being used, so I grabbed an AED unit and applied the electrode pads to the victim's chest. After I ordered everyone to stand clear, the AED analyzed and I received the familiar "shock advised" message that I hear time and time again in my own CPR/AED classes. At this point I again told everyone to stand clear, pressed the shock button, and almost immediately the patient started to breathe.

Within moments of the victim starting to breathe the paramedics were on the scene. We turned over patient care, told the medics what had happened, and I ran back to the gate and caught my flight with little time to spare. Later that afternoon I received a call from the Delta gate attendant, who informed me that the gentleman was at the hospital in stable condition and was expected to make a full recovery.

In class, I stress to students that you can prepare for medical emergencies such as these, but you can't schedule when they will happen. You must have a plan and be prepared to take action.

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International Spotlight

Submitted by Lorna Downing, ECSI Europe Manager

ECSI EuropeECSI Europe continues to grow as an organization since its inception in 2007.The customization of ECSI's products for the United Kingdom (UK) and Irish markets has brought many benefits to first aid trainers and students alike. Now they are able to access the high-quality materials with the real life images of injuries that they have been asking for—all in line with local protocols and requirements at a cost that is very reasonable.

The driving force behind these customizations has been the emergency services community. First, the UK police force under the governance of the Association of Chief Police Officers came to us to ask for quality materials to supply to police officers across the UK. Once we had delivered this, the Ambulance Service requested an adaptation of First Aid, CPR and AED Standard to meet the needs of a new role within the service of Emergency Care Assistant (similar to First Responder). Following this, it was recommended that the Royal National Lifeboat Institute use the same materials for their redeveloped sea survival course for Lifeboat Crews. This involved combining the high-quality ECSI materials with the particular requirements of the world's leading maritime rescue service in the shape of materials supplied by the RNLI in their maritime supplement. Prior to this they had been obliged to use several books to support their course; now they have one book that meets their unique specialized needs.

In 2009 there are plans to create a new first aid textbook for the UK's beach lifeguards, an adaptation of Pediatric First Aid for Caregivers and Teachers course and an Irish version of First Aid, CPR and AED. ECSI Europe continues to work with the first aid trainers to deliver the training materials that they have been lacking for so long and which they definitely deserve.

Similar to the US based operations, the strength of ECSI Europe is the ability to react quickly to the requirements of these emergency care groups, and create robust and up-to-date materials that meet their needs at a price that is affordable to overstretched public services.

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Corporate Partner Spotlights

CPR Heartstarters Inc. for the ECSI Merchandise Store

ESCI Merchandise StoreThe ECSI Merchandise Store is open for business! This is your source for ECSI-approved merchandise that helps you look professional in all you do!

We offer:

  • Personalized Business Cards
  • Embroidered Sport Shirts
  • Decorated T-shirts
  • Promotional Products
  • Custom Web Sites, and more...

The ECSI Merchandise Store is your one-stop source for all your needs. And, we're not just a Web site; we offer a toll-free number so you can talk to our customer service representatives who can answer all your questions!

Surf our site often. We're in the process of updating all the information and will have monthly specials to help you stay in budget! And, of course, if you don't see what you're looking for, we can provide you custom work. Call 1-888-WE-SUPPLY or visit www.ECSI-Merchandise.com today!

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Prestan Manikins/BTB Distribution Group

Prestan ManikinsThe Prestan Professional Manikin is indeed the Future of CPR Training today! BTB Distribution Group, LLC, has launched this high-tech, interactive training manikin as its flagship product. Prestan manikins enable your facility to own the newest high-tech, interactive training equipment at an extremely affordable price. The realistic-feeling, polymer skin ensures long-term durability when used by multiple staff for years to come. Clean-up is a breeze (even AED pad residue), returning each manikin to pristine condition with common household cleaners.

Having manikins that are quick and easy to assemble (no parts or tools to lose), easy to clean and store and easy on your budget makes Prestan the smart manikin to buy. Students actually learn how to keep effective compressions going for several minutes, prompted by a clicker mechanism for depth and a monitor that provides visual lights at various rate levels. (Manikins can be purchased with or without the monitor feature.) The pinchable nose, ease of use with pocket masks/BVMs, and realistic feel make Prestan Manikins the best all-around manikin on the market.

Use the Prestan Professional Manikin and you'll find the responses from students to be so positive and enthusiastic you'll want to replace your entire inventory of adult and child manikins as others have already.

To learn more about Prestan Professional Manikin's unique features, search "Prestan Professional Manikin YouTube.com," call (866) 950-4001, or visit www.prestanproducts.com

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Upcoming Conferences for ECSI/Jones and Bartlett Publishers

The following conferences will be attended by representatives from the Emergency Care and/or safety Institute or our publisher, Jones and Bartlett

ITLS
2/27 - 3/1
Columbus, OH
NEMSA
3/13 - 3/15
Columbus, NE
CT State EMS
3/20 - 3/21
Cromwell, CT
GA Changes
3/23 - 3/26
Augusta, GA
EMS Update
3/26 - 3/28
Seven Springs, PA
EMS Today
3/27 - 3/29
Baltimore, MD
Trade 9 Meeting
3/30 - 4/1
Las Vegas, NV
ND EMS
4/2 - 4/4
Bismark, ND
KY EMS
4/3 - 4/5
Pikeville, KY
SC EMS
4/15 - 4/18
Myrtle Beach, SC
MI EMS Expo
4/16 - 4/19
Grand Rapids, MI
MO ICE EMS
4/20 - 4/22
Lake Ozark, MO
IFSAC
4/20 - 4/25
Oklahoma City,OK
FDIC
4/23 - 4/25
Indianapolis, IN
IPMBA
4/28 - 4/30
Albuquerque, NM
 

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Web Sites of Interest

Animal Attraction:
www.animalattraction.com

AED Superstore:
www.AEDSuperstore.com

ECSI Merchandise Store:
www.ECSI-Merchandise.com

ECSI Online Programs:
www.jblearning.com

CPREzy:
www.CPREzy.com

LifeSafe Services:
www.LifeSafeServices.com

Pets America:
www.petsamerica.org

Think Safe:
www.think-safe.com

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Article Submission

To inquire about submitting articles, tips, comments, or stories in future ECSI Connections, please contact: Lani Byrd, ECSI's National Membership Director at lbyrd@ecsinstitute.org.