Team members of Nature Coast EMS recently attended the annual Chick-fil-A Leadercast in Atlanta. Chick-fil-A Leadercast offers a unique opportunity to hear from some of the top leadership and business thinkers in the world and is a one-day World Class leadership event broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, GA to hundreds of sites throughout the nation.  It is carefully and thoughtfully designed to focus you and your team on the challenges of leading in the 21st Century. The choices you make define the leader you become and are not just about you. They’re about the positive impact you can have on your organization, your community and beyond.

This year’s featured speakers included Tim Tebow, NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and best-selling author

John Maxwell, Leadership expert & best-selling author of “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” Angela Ahrendts, CEO, Burberry, Soledad O’Brien, anchorwoman and special correspondent  for CNN, and Urban Meyer, Head football coach for Ohio State University Buckeyes to name a few.

Nature Coast EMS team members pictured from left; Wayne Martin, Operations Chief, Katie Lucas, Public Information Officer, Lynette Holsinger, Human Resources Director, “special representative” from Chick-fil-A, Ray Valdivia, Field Supervisor, Hester Clow, Chief Financial Officer and Holly Martin, Ambulance Accounts Specialist.

Learn how to save a life!

In celebration of National EMS Week, Nature Coast EMS will offer two Hands-Only CPR Classes Thursday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with our compliments.  No reservations are required we suggest you arrive early prior to the class you choose to attend. Our administration office is located on Homosassa Trail in Lecanto.

Hope to see you there!

Good morning! The month of May is an extremely busy one with excitement filling the air for everyone with high school and college graduations, parties to attend and summer plans being made. Tragic accidents also happen this time of year; some of them preventable. All of us at Nature Coast EMS encourage you to be safe, take plenty of time to reach your destination and designate a driver if the occasion warrants. “Every minute counts” so be smart while planning your fun.

The week of May 20 through May 26 is National EMS Week with the theme, “More than a job. A Calling.”  National Emergency Medical Services Week honors the dedication of emergency medical professionals around the country who provide lifesaving services every day. Nature Coast EMS would like to recognize our team members and all emergency medical personnel at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center, Citrus Memorial Health System, Oak Hill Hospital, Bayflite, Aeromed, Regional Medical Center at Bayonet Point, Shands at the University of Florida and the many other wonderful facilities with which we serve.

In celebration of National EMS Week, Nature Coast EMS will offer two Hands-Only CPR Classes Thursday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with our compliments.  No reservations are required but I would suggest you arrive early prior to the class you choose to attend. Our administration office is located on Homosassa Trail in Lecanto.

In other exciting news, after months of hard work and preparation, Nature Coast EMS has been selected to compete at the annual Florida Sterling Conference Team Showcase in Orlando for the state championship the week of May 29 through June 1 to vie for the Governor’s Sterling Award.  The Team showcase helps to facilitate the regional application of performance improvement principles and recognition across the six state regions. As one of six teams chosen across the state, this is an honor for Nature Coast EMS and the citizens of Citrus County. Citrus County is part of Region 4 and includes Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Established in 1992, the Florida Sterling Council is a public/private not-for-profit corporation supported by the Executive Office of the Governor. Since 1992, 66 organizations have received the Governor’s Sterling Award (GSA) for significant improvement and achievement of performance excellence. The GSA is derived from the internationally acclaimed Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and is based on the application of the Sterling Criteria. The Governor’s Sterling Award is recognized as the pre-eminent state award process in the nation.   Sterling promotes organizational performance excellence through the offering of three assessment tools. The Governor’s Sterling Award, Sterling Challenge, and Sterling Navigator provide organizations at all levels explicit feedback on systematically improving their management approaches.

Nature Coast EMS team members are active with area festivals, and information & health fairs around Citrus County. Come see us at the Information Fiesta at the Citrus Hills Country Club Thursday, May 3, the All Hazards Expo Saturday, May 19 at the Crystal River Armory, the Stroke Awareness Event at the Lutheran Church on Hwy 44 in Inverness Tuesday, May 22, and the Cobia Tournament in Homosassa the weekend of June 2 and 3.

As always, be safe, take care and stay well!

Katie Lucas is the Public Information Officer at Nature Coast EMS. If you would like schedule a presentation, or receive our VIP Constant Contact newsletter, she can be reached at (352) 249-4730 or katie.lucas@naturecoastems.org.  Nature Coast EMS is an accredited nonprofit 501(c)3 established in 2000 to provide emergency medical services to Citrus County.  Watch “Every Minute Counts” hosted by Mike Hall, CEO, Nature Coast EMS, on WYKE TV at  8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.  Some of the information for this article was ascertained from www.floridasterling.com. Nature Coast EMS does not call soliciting donations on behalf of our Paramedics and EMTs. The Citrus County Professional Paramedics and EMTs Local 365 is a union, and Nature Coast EMS team members do not benefit from any donation to this organization.

Most signs of a real emergency are obvious, however, some are not. Although only a physician can diagnose a medical
condition here are some of the warning signs according to the American College of Emergency Physicians that signify a medical emergency; difficulty breathing, shortness of breath; chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure; fainting, sudden dizziness; weakness or change in vision; unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty waking; sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body; bleeding that won’t stop; severe or persistent vomiting; coughing up or vomiting blood; and suicidal or homicidal feelings.

Call 9-1-1 and Nature Coast EMS will be there for you.

Now, what should you do about more common illnesses and injuries? Sniffles or a non-persistent cough, small cuts or scrapes; are usually not life threatening, but trust your gut feeling. If you have any doubt, call 9-1-1 and Nature Coast EMS will be there.

When should you call an ambulance instead of driving to the emergency department? Ask yourself the following questions:
Is the condition life-threatening or could it become life-threatening on the way to the hospital? Could moving the victim make things worse? Are skills and emergency equipment of Nature Coast EMS paramedics and EMTs needed? Will distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in receiving medical treatment? If you are unsure, it’s best to dial 9-1-1. The professional Paramedics and EMTs at Nature Coast EMS provide the best pre-hospital medicine while en route and are in constant contact with the physician in the emergency department.

All patients are important and should be treated with care and respect. Whether you walk into an emergency room, or are
transported by ambulance, each patient is triaged and ranked by order of severity. Patients who arrive by ambulance do not automatically jump ahead of patients in the emergency department waiting room unless the ambulance arrival has a far more serious and life-threatening illness or injury over others.

On behalf of Nature Coast EMS, I would like to thank the citizens of Citrus County for their generous donations to
our “Treasures & Treats” sale to benefit CASA, (Citrus Abuse Shelter Association), and Blessings in a Backpack. Our event was also successful due to community partners at Publix of Hernando, Publix of Homosassa, Winn Dixie in Crystal River and Walmart Super Center in Inverness. The Team members of Nature Coast EMS stand proud with you and thank you again your thoughtful donations in helping us with our community project.

The week of April 8 through 14 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and Nature Coast EMS team members
would like to recognize the Emergency Operations Center Communication Officers, (dispatchers), and commend them for their hard work and dedication. Nature Coast EMS will be participating with the 9th Annual Sheriff’s Summer Safety & Youth Expo Saturday, April 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Citrus County Auditorium. We hope to see you there.

As always, be safe, take care and stay well!

Katie Lucas is the Public Information Officer at Nature Coast EMS. If you would like schedule a presentation, or receive our VIP Constant Contact newsletter, she can be reached at (352) 249-4730 or katie.lucas@naturecoastems.org. Nature
Coast EMS is an accredited non-profit 501(c)3 established in 2000 to provide emergency medical services to Citrus County. Watch “Every Minute Counts” hosted by Mike Hall, CEO, Nature Coast EMS, on WYKE TV at 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. Some of the information for this article was ascertained from the American College of Emergency Physicians. Nature Coast EMS does not call soliciting donations on behalf of our Paramedics and EMTs. The Citrus County Professional Paramedics and EMTs Local 365 is a union, and Nature Coast EMS team members do not benefit from any donation to this organization.

Thank you to all the students from Pope John Paul II Catholic school that recently attended our CPR class at the Nature Coast EMS headquarters!

LECANTO, FL, MARCH 1, 2012;

The workshop was held at the Nature Coast EMS education center in Lecanto on February 28, 2012, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the focus as knowing “When chest pain becomes a heart emergency.”  Presentations were given by Dr. R. Prasad Potu, Cardiology, Mike Hall, Nature Coast EMS CEO/President, Dr. Mary Ann Kolar, Emergency Medicine, Dr. Grogory von Mering, Interventional Cardiology and Jane Bedford, RN, CCP, Nature Coast EMS.

Attendees  were engaged in discussions of heart attack prevention, signs and symptoms, when to call 911, and the role of the paramedic, what to expect in the emergency room, coronary intervention, and the value of CPR and AED, (Automated External Defibrillators), training.

• Ride along with Paramedics and EMTs and take part in actual emergencies
• Learn life-saving skills used by professionals in all types of scenarios
• Take part in paramedics’ and EMTs’ everyday work

Contact (352) 249-4700 or email Jane Bedford: janeb@naturecoastems.org for more information.

Next class starts April 4th! 

The AAA was formed in response to the need for improvements in medical transportation and emergency medical services. The Association services as a voice and clearinghouse for ambulance services across the nation. The Association views pre-hospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public health care system. The AAA’s Mission is: “To promote health care policies that ensure excellence in the ambulance services industry and provide research, education and communications programs to enable its members to effectively address the needs of the communities they serve.”

What: Nature Coasts EMS is co-hosting a Code Blue Workshop with Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center. Various professionals will discuss conditions that lead to a heart attack, when to call 911, what to expect  in the emergency room,  demonstrations and more.

When: February 28, 2012 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m

Where: Nature Coast EMS Training Center,  3876 W Country Hill Dr
Lecanto, FL 34461

This workshop is free and open to the public. For more information call Seven Rivers at 352-795-1234.