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Dear Neighbor,
On Saturday, May 16, Washington Ambulance is sponsoring a full day of community activities, with events throughout town, to celebrate National EMS Week. Highlights include:
- From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., a one-hour first aid workshop specially designed for kids ages five and up, hosted by The Gunn Memorial Library
- From 10 a.m. to noon, a CPR certification class for people age 14 and up, also hosted by The Gunn Memorial Library
- All day long, Washington's first annual Community Tag Sale
- Opportunities to meet Washington Ambulance volunteers and tour the ambulance
There is more information below, including instructions on how to reserve your space in each program.
But wait . . . there's more! This edition of our newsletter also includes information on Give Local, quick tips to stay out of the E.R. on Memorial Day Weekend, and a profile of one of our newer volunteers, Pastor Linda Williams.
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Washington Ambulance is one of only a few ambulances in the State of Connecticut that do not charge patients. We are able to provide emergency services without charging because of generous donations from the community and the steadfast support of the Washington Lion's Club.
We are thrilled to be a part of this year's Give Local program. This is a 36 hour marathon promoting philanthropy at a local level. Seven other Washington non-profit groups will be participating, joined by others throughout Litchfield County. Please click here for more information and to show your support for us and other local nonprofits.
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EMS WEEK ACTIVITIES
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First Aid for Kids
Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Gunn Memorial Library
In celebration of National EMS Week, Washington Ambulance volunteers will offer a one-hour first aid workshop specially designed for kids ages five and up. This hands-on workshop will give kids a chance to learn and practice skills like calling 911, taking their own pulse, and applying bandaids. Washington EMTs will also provide kid-friendly tips to prevent summer emergencies.
Learn CPR
Saturday, May 16,10 a.m. to noon
Gunn Memorial Library
Did you know that 80% of cardiac arrests happen in a private residence? If you learn CPR, chances are that the person you perform CPR on will be someone that you know and love. In conjunction with National EMS Week, Washington Ambulance is offering a free two-hour class leading to CPR certification. You must be at least 14 years old to participate. Only 12 spaces are available, so register early by calling Gunn Memorial Library at 860-868-7586 or emailing gunnprograms@biblio.org.
Town-Wide Tag Sale
Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Washington Ambulance Association is organizing Washington's first-ever town-wide tag sale. There are many ways for you to participate, including:
- Have a tag sale at your house (all money made at your sale is yours to keep)
- Get together with neighbors and have a group tag sale (all money made at your sale is yours to keep)
- Register to have a seller's table at 1 Green Hill Road, Washington Depot - Advance registration required (all money made at your table is yours to keep)
- Donate new, almost new, or barely used items to us. We will pick up your items to sell at our tag sale. All money raised from the sale of donated goods will benefit Washington Ambulance Association.
TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ALL PROMOTIONS (INCLUDING ADVERTISING IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND INCLUSION ON OUR DOWNLOADABLE TOWN MAP) YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT BY MAY 10TH.
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STAY OUT OF THE ER ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
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Our top four tips for staying out of the ER on Memorial Day Weekend are as follows:
#1. Exercise grill safety. The American College of Emergency Room physicians suggests "Consumers should thoroughly clean a grill of any grease or dust. Check the tubes leading into the burner for any blockages from insects or food grease that can cause an uncontrolled fire. Replace any connectors which can lead to a gas leak and keep lighted cigarettes, matches or open flame away from any grill. Do not use a grill in a garage, breezeway, carport or porch or near any surface that can catch fire."
#2. Do not drink and drive. Refuse to be a passenger with anyone who has been drinking and insists on driving.
#3. Protect against sunburn and heat stroke. Apply and re-apply sunscreen. Wear a hat. Stay hydrated, especially if you're exercising. If you start to feel faint or nauseous, take yourself out of the heat and into someplace cool.
#4. Practice Water Safety. Drowning is one of the leading causes of injury death among all ages, and the second leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years. The CDC article Drowning Happens Quickly provides specific, actionable tips to prevent drowning.
For additional reading, we recommend:
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VOLUNTEER PROFILE: LINDA WILLIAMS
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Pastor Linda Williams, Senior Pastor of Salem Covenant Church and a Connecticut certified Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), has served as a Washington Ambulance EMR and as Chaplain to Washington Ambulance since June 2012. A native of New Hampshire, she earned her Masters in Divinity with an emphasis on Urban Ministry. She also holds Bachelors Degrees in Early Childhood Development and Graphic Design.
Last year, Pastor Linda was keynote speaker at a national conference of American Airlines/US Airways and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, focusing on critical incident stress management. Her talk, Resilience: Surviving Critical Incidents, focused on helping critical care givers understand and assist survivors in dealing with the grief and stress of sudden tragedy or loss. She stressed six points:
- We all have an inner compass that shapes our response to tragedy.
- We have all experienced pain. The scars we bear attest to our courage and our ability to deal with that.
- We all have creative ways to deal with loss.
- Everything changes, and we adapt. Our ability to adapt to change either sets us apart or tears us apart.
- No one can do it alone. We need a community of family, friends and professional support if we are not only to survive our loss but to grow from it.
- We are able to experience post-traumatic growth when we integrate all of these things.
As chairperson of Washington Ambulance's Patient Advocacy Team (PAT), Pastor Linda is dedicated to helping not only the immediate victim in a crisis situation, but also the secondary victims: family, close friends, and first responders, who often need support. She describes her mission as providing 'soul care' for those who need it, helping them draw upon their own inner resources and spirituality to cope with stress and loss. The Washington community is fortunate to have Pastor Linda as a member of the Washington Ambulance team.
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Sincerely,
The Volunteers of Washington Ambulance Association
Susie Wallace-Wyant, Chief
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