HASTINGS — Mary Lanning Healthcare and the Hastings Fire Department are teaming up to recognize a group of area volunteer emergency medical providers.
The recognition event takes place Monday, March 2, at 6 p.m. in the Mary Lanning Healthcare Conference Room #1 on Ground Floor. Members of the Clay County Basic Life Support (BLS) crew will be honored.
Heather Peterson, RN, MLH Trauma Coordinator, said Jake Veik, Jeff Switzer, Jim Piper, Vally RobinsonMcDonald and Haley Roemmich will be honored for their hard work and quick actions.
Peterson, who provides training for emergency medical providers in the community, said the state of Nebraska opened up some advanced education — for performing advanced airways, using IVs and administering the drug NARCAN® — in 2019. NARCAN® (naloxone) is used to treat a narcotic overdose in emergencies.
The Clay Center team was one of a few in the region who spent a considerable amount of time to receive the certifications that allow them to perform these lifesaving techniques while transporting patients.
“This takes a lot of extra time,” Peterson said. “These people are not paid, and for them to commit the time away from their family to do this for their community is pretty awesome.”
The Clay Center team had the opportunity to use these new skills when they arrived at a call to find a person unresponsive.
“To be able to do that in an emergent situation is wonderful and deserving of recognition,” Peterson said.