EMS taking to two wheels
Ambulance service personnel receive bicycle training
By Debbie Holmes, Estes Park Trail-Gazette, POSTED: 06/13/2014 07:36:01 AM MDT
The Estes Park Ambulance Service has parked their ambulance and gotten on their bicycles, well not exactly, but nine members of Estes Park EMS are excited to participate in four-days of training to become a certified EMS bicycle responder team.
Using bicycles for EMS offers mobility in areas with heavy population and/or vehicle traffic and it's been something that Estes Park has wanted to add to their services for a number of years.
"This should help us effectively serve and reach people more quickly," said Dr. Scott Chew, medical director for Estes Park EMS. "It's also inspiring to see our staff participating in events on their bikes."
The Estes Park Ambulance service is excited to offer this service to the community.
"Ninety percent of responder cycling teams work special events, both in police and EMS," said IPMBA cycling instructor Rob Collett.
Estes Park is known for hosting some of the nation’s best special events during their summer months and that's where the EPMC bicycle responder team hopes to provide their services.
The International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) is the only international certifying organization that offers this specific training and certification for police and EMS teams and is an extension from the American Bicycling Association from 1992. IPMBA has certified cycling teams all over the world, many in the United States also in London and Argentina.
Collett, also a paramedic at Poudre Valley Hospital, believes that having a certified bicycle EMS team provides a unique opportunity for communities that service special events; events that have large number of people in attendance. Often these events make it strategically difficult to get an ambulance to an injury amongst the mass numbers of people in a timely manner.
"The curriculum and liability protection that this certification offers is really good for EMS services," said Collett.
This certification gives the team members some practiced skills and understanding as to how they can respond safely and effectively on a bike.
The Estes medics and EMT's will learn everything they need to know about working from a bike. They will be practicing quick stops and braking, avoiding hazards, riding within confined areas, speed and quick turns, balance, road riding, safety issues, EMS equipment and response.
"Unfortunately, due to the economic status of emergency services, many communities that could benefit from a EMS Cycle team can't afford to offer this service," said Collett. "It's important for the organization to select individuals who are interested in this opportunity and willing to give back. It looks like EPMC has a great group of team members, I'm impressed with their skills and enthusiasm after only one day of training."
The EMS cycling response team will spend four days of education and training before they can test for their certification.
It'll be exciting to see how the EP-EMS cycling response team is able to utilize their skills in the community. Look for them this summer at many of the events around town.
This class was made possible partly by a generous donation from a patient.