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First Responders Newsletter June 2010

by Justin Shogren

We still need volunteer First Responders for Tappen, Sunnybrea, White Lake, Eagle Bay, Blind Bay, Sorrento and Notch Hill. Full training is provided. Please contact either of the two responders below for more information.

Any one who has ordered signs from us and has not received them please call Sherri at 250.675.2420

The warm summer months are approaching in the beautiful Shuswap. As the weather starts to get a lot warmer, many people are outside having fun in the sun. The warm temperature can cause discomfort to many, as they are outside gardening, exercising or down at the lake for the day. Heat emergencies will soon be faced by people who have been over exposed to excessive heat while exercising and working for prolonged periods of time. Signs and symptoms of a heat exhaustion patient are; Rapid and shallow breathing, pale, cool and clammy skin, heavy sweating, cramps, and dizziness. When a person is exposed to excessive heat and stops sweating, the temperature control mechanisms of the body fail and heat stroke occurs, this is now an emergency. The following signs and symptoms of heat stroke are; deep breathing, rapid strong pulse, dry, hot, and red skin, vomiting, cramps, loss of consciousness. If overworked or having any feeling of dizziness or rapid breathing; take a break in a cool area and drink water to rehydrate.

The South Shuswap First Responders Association sells reflective signs as a fundraiser. These signs can be mounted at the foot of your driveway to be seen by emergency personal in event of an emergency. Many of the homes that we respond to do not have a sign displaying the homes address. The signs are of great importance as they reduce the call times, and we can get to your loved one in an emergency in a timely manner. Please consider purchasing a reflective sign from us, which not only helps us locate you, but a percentage of the purchase price helps fund our organization. The First Responders program is an important organization in your community that responds to emergency calls before the paramedics arrive. BC ambulance is dispatched from Salmon Arm or Chase which can be a while before someone is there to your emergency. With first responders we are the first on scene and provide the patient and family comfort and emergency care before the paramedics arrive.

The First responders are always looking for new volunteers to join. Full training is provided; there is no cost to joining only your time. Once you are fully licensed, you can respond to calls and help out patients in need of care. You will not be responding to calls alone, as there are a minimum of three responders to every call. If you are interested in just checking out what we do, why not drop by for one of our bi weekly practices. The dates of the practices held are in the Sorrento Wave. Our practice location is at the South Shuswap fire hall #2 across the Trans Canada highway from Shuswap Lake Estates Golf Course. If you can volunteer as a responder or a dispatcher please feel free to call Sherri at 250.675.2420 or Doug at 250.675.3920.