The Outer Banks Voice – First responders gather at annual “EMS at the OBX” conference at Jennette’s Pier

By WTKR on October 9, 2024

The occasion brings businesses from throughout North Carolina and a few from Virginia

By  Will Thomas | WTKR

This story is delivered to you thru our information gathering partnership with WTKR Information 3.

As guests introduced their fishing poles onto Jennette’s Pier, upstairs practically 100 first responders from businesses in North Carolina and Virginia had been gathering for the fourth annual “EMS on the OBX” convention.

“It’s an academic alternative for EMS suppliers throughout the state of North Carolina, this yr from Virginia as effectively, to have the ability to come and get about 14 hours of continuous training credit score,” stated Walter Meads, EMS program coordinator at Faculty of the Albemarle.

This yr, for the primary time, Dare County and COA had been joined by representatives of East Carolina College’s Brody College of Medication and ECU Well being Medical Middle. With it got here the cellular healthcare simulation unit, that offers first responders arms on expertise from actual life occasions, that they might have by no means seen earlier than.

“It’s such an incredible alternative to have the ability to run via a situation that you could be see in actual life, however in a secure house. So you could have the chance to study to essentially use your arms to apply the talents when it’s not any individual’s life that’s on the road,” stated Erika Greene, pediatric trauma program supervisor at ECU Well being Medical Middle.

The convention is about extra than simply the arms on expertise although, it’s a time to community with fellow first responders.

“EMS may be very a lot a staff effort once we accomplice with different public security companions on the scene, whether or not it’s hearth departments or regulation enforcement. All people is there for the advantage of the affected person. It’s not uncommon to stroll on the scene and chances are you’ll not know anyone, however you shortly fall into having the ability to handle that staff and work collectively collaboratively in order that that affected person advantages. It’s no distinction whether or not it’s within the classroom, the simulation van, or on the the precise road doing that 911 care,” stated Jennie Collins, chief of Dare EMS and MedFlight.

Collins additionally took the time to offer an replace on Dare County EMS’s efforts in western North Carolina. Two groups went on four-day deployments within the final week to assist out in Rutherford County after Hurricane Helene. The crews are residence now, however Dare County EMS stays on standby to deploy once more if they’re wanted.

“The issues that we find yourself seeing once you go into a few of these areas, and sadly western Carolina, it’s only a disaster for these people. The devastation that’s occurred, it completely and endlessly, will change a few of the panorama on the market. The issues that you simply see, you suppose that you simply’re ready to see it, however when you see it in actuality, it’s all the time completely different,” stated Collins.

“We’ve skilled that right here within the Outer Banks earlier than with the numerous storms that we get, and have appreciated the assistance that is available in to help us, and to have the ability to return and do this and provides that to any individual else, means rather a lot to us. We’re giving some reduction to these different businesses, as a result of their name quantity may be very excessive proper now, two or 3 times what they usually run. To provide them a relaxation, to have the ability to allow them to get residence and attend to the issues that they want at house is so essential, and their continued psychological well being capability to have the ability to take in all that devastation day in and time out,” Collins stated.

With every part occurring in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, organizers additionally felt having this gathering introduced with it a way of normalcy.