Talbot DES Celebrates Emergency Medical Services Week... by Talbot County Emergency Services (DES) on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 3:15pm

Talbot County Emergency Services is celebrating National Emergency Medical Services Week which is May 16-21, 2011. This is a national celebration to honor approximately 750,000 EMS providers nationwide. This year, the theme is “EMS. Anytime-Anywhere... We'll be there.”

Across Maryland, over 30,000 volunteer and career Emergency Medical Service workers respond to over 500,000 calls for service each year. In Talbot County last year our emergency medical personnel responded to over 4300 medical emergencies.

DES emergency medical personnel are comprised of dispatchers who receive emergency medical dispatch training, first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics who staff units each day to respond to needs of our Talbot County community. Additionally, Talbot County is fortunate to have trained and dedicated emergency medical responders who operate as part of the seven volunteer fire departments in Talbot County. DES Division Chief Brian LeCates explains “We are fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with our Volunteer Fire Departments, and as a team we are able to provide rapid responses and top notch care to our patients.”

This year the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) held the annual “Stars of Life” awards where one of Talbot’s own 9-1-1 dispatchers was recognized for assisting a distraught caller and subsequently saving a life. 9-1-1 Communications Lieutenant Holley Guschke who received the MIEMSS award stated “I am proud to be able to work closely with a team of highly qualified professionals and to be able to help people in need.”

As the Talbot County Emergency Services Medical Director Dr Thomas Chiccone has the responsibility to ensure all emergency medical personnel are highly trained and capable of performing detailed medical procedures by following protocols. Dr. Chiccone echoed his appreciation for the professionalism of the emergency medical providers saying, “I am proud of the men and woman who make up our emergency medical team in Talbot County everyday... their professionalism and overall capability to provide emergency medical care is second to none.”

Clay Stamp, Director of Talbot DES Stated, #8220;our emergency medical personnel strive to provide the best service possible recognizing there is no greater ambition than to save lives.#8221; He further stated, “If you see one of our emergency services workers, or volunteer firefighters take an extra second to say thank you... it goes a long way.”

Picture left to right… Doyle Cox, President Maryland State Fireman’s Association, Dr Robert Bass, Executive Director Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), DES 9-1-1 Division Chief Tim McNeal, DES EMS Division Chief Brian LeCates, DES Director Clay Stamp, and front row DES 9-1-1 Lieutenant - Communications Supervisor Holley Guschke