HALO-Flight’s EMS Training Academy - A non-profit helicopter emergency medical service for south Texas.
We always appreciate when we hear back from community members. Please take a moment to read a testimonial we received from a former EMS Training Academy student:
Attending the HALO Flight EMT-Basic course was a personal choice I knew would require me to commit most of my off time to, but I also understood that the training could possible come in handy one day on or off duty as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent. Taking the EMT course was really nothing I ever considered doing or really had any interest in doing.
Prior to the HALO Flight EMT-Basic course I had very minimal training in urgent care. My experience consisted of combat buddy aid (tourniquet application, basic first aid, very basic treatment for shock and bleeding) from military service and similar training to include infant/toddler CPR from the U.S. Border Patrol Academy.
Since completing the EMT-Basic course, I have responded to multiple rollover accidents in which the skills I learned in the course were extremely useful. Although the course is “basic”, the skills you will learn in the course will build your confidence in responding to urgent situations (one of the top reasons most of the public do not act is because they are afraid or are untrained, you shouldn’t have that problem after completing the course, if you do then you need to reevaluate your career choice).
Making a small personal sacrifice to attend this course, while still working a full time profession was absolutely worth it (50+hours a week for work and 13-14 classroom time with EMT course, in other words you most likely have no excuse, either you want the training or you do not). Since completing the course, I have responded to vehicle accidents where I was able to assist/lead and walk other Agents with little to no experience, through the process of extricating, packaging and bandaging a burn victim to prepare them for EMS transport by ground and air. Since taking the course I’ve received IV therapy and advanced airway treatment, and in my profession as a Border Patrol agent these skills are a must have. After completing the course, you’ll have the opportunity to do many other things, and continue onto to Intermediate and Paramedic.
In closing, the instruction you will receive from the HALO Flight professor (Wendy) and the staff is unmatched, recognized and well respected by local EMS services (you’ll see when you’re asked where you attended the course and who taught you). The training and instruction in this course is delivered by highly experienced and professional instructor with mountains of experience and skills. Prior to attending and completing the course I was very unaware of the kind of work EMS personnel did on a daily basis, so along with the training I received, I was educated and able to get a very small inside look of what these professionals do and made me appreciate them more so than before. This course is designed to pass but that doesn’t mean you cannot or will not fail, if you do not apply yourself. Simply put, you get what you put into it.
Richard Aucion, United States Border Patrol Agent
Angelica “Jellie” Requenez, RN, CCRN, CEN, CCEMT-P, LP
Director of Education
Annually, HALO-Flight responds to a variation of medical and traumatic emergencies; many of which make local headline news and occasionally, national news. Stress is a common response to our work environment and is shared by other emergency personnel and healthcare professionals. How we manage our stress is dependent upon a multitude of factors involved. Each event is unique and each person’s response to stress varies, as well. The stress becomes problematic when the affected individual is unable to manage their stress by means of their usual coping mechanisms. In such instances, the unmanageable stress can affect the individual’s work performance, home environment, social relationships and health; essentially, every aspect of the person’s life.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an intervention protocol developed specifically for dealing with traumatic events. It is a formal, highly structured and professionally recognized process for helping those involved in a critical incident share their experiences, vent emotions, and learn about common stress reactions and symptoms. If required, persons are given a referral to a mental health expert for further assistance. While it is not psychotherapy; it is sometimes referred to as ‘psychological first aid’. The process is voluntary and confidential.
CISM was first developed for use with military combat veterans. It has now been adapted and used in numerous areas where there is a need to address traumatic impact in people’s lives, such as police, fire, ambulance, emergency workers and disaster rescuers. Such critical incidents in which people benefited from intervention include the following events: Columbine High School Shooting (4/19/1999), World Trade Center (9/11/2001), Hurricane Katrina (08/25/2005), Newtown School Shooting (12/14/2012). These heinous events not only affected the victims and their families but also emergency personnel and other rescue workers that had to deal with the acute nature of the emergency.
The purpose for hosting these courses is to be able to provide CISM to people affected by critical incidents. We are in the process of collaborating with the CBRAC and other agencies in order to establish a Multi-Disciplinary Regional CISM Team for South Texas.
Future course offerings for CISM Interventionist training and subspecialty training are currently in the planning phase. For more information about HALO-Flight’s Educational Offerings, please contact Angelica Requenez at angelicar@haloflight.org or call 361.265.0509.
www.haloflight.org
On April 3-4, 2013 we hosted an Advanced CISM Interventionist Course. 31 participants attended that course. The participants were comprised of local Registered Nurses, EMS personnel, Fire Fighters, Chaplains, Pastors, Social Workers and Licensed Mental Health Professionals. Among the participants for the Advanced CISM course, was a Psychotherapist who traveled from Rome, Italy to attend this course with plans to initiate the same training in Rome.
Our Executive Director, Tom Klassen, has been nominated as a finalist in the Caller-Times’ Healthcare Heroes program. Over 100 entries were submitted for the six categories in this first-time event. We are happy to announce that Tom is one of the three finalists in the administrative category.
Health Care Heroes Program
Health Care Heroes is a program of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that recognizes excellence in care and service and educates the community about best practices to enhance the value and quality care in the Coastal Bend Area.
An independent panel of judges will select the winners from each category.
Tom and the other finalists will be honored at a luncheon on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
HALO-Flight is so happy to launch this new blog to connect to the medical community, donors, volunteers, members and supporters of our organization. Here, we will share topics to help educate our readers, introduce ourselves to you, and give you some insight into our fundraising and special events, membership and much more!
We will update you weekly with a new blog post with useful content that we hope will impact you. HALO-Flight values your feedback! Tell us what you want to know about.
Thank you for making HALO-Flight your First Choice!
