Hennepin EMS

Did you spend time this weekend cleaning up from last week’s storms? Hennepin EMS was also affected after a flash flood took over our garage. We didn’t have any extensive damage to our vehicles, but it was a bit of a mess! Good luck to everyone dealing with even bigger messes out there.

Happy Labor Day to the true heroes of our department. Without their compassion, care, and expertise, there would be no Hennepin EMS. Tag a first responder in your life to show your appreciation! You make us proud!

It’s Gopher game day!

We are excited to share that Hennepin EMS is now the EMS leader for the University of Minnesota's large events. Our team will be providing advanced life support paramedics, incident dispatch, and command services at all U of MN home events with 10,000 or more attendees.

Tonight, we kick off the football season with the Gophers home game against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Pronto Pups, french fries, and Sweet Martha’s cookies – it’s opening day at the Great Minnesota Get Together! While Hennepin EMS is not staffing the fair for EMS services, we thought we’d share a few general health reminders for those of you heading out there:

✅Stay hydrated
✅Wear sunscreen
✅Wash your hands
✅Bring along essential daily medicines, including allergy medicines
✅Pay attention to weather alerts
✅Call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency

It's the Governor's Fire Prevention Day tomorrow at the Minnesota State Fair! Stop by for educational and life-saving programs like a grease fire demonstration, mock vehicle collision, and more. Don't miss this day of fun and educational programming for the whole family! governorsfirepreventionday.org

Read the latest news from Hennepin EMS in the July edition of The Dispatch.

Monthly news from Hennepin EMS The HEMS Dispatch - July 2024 We had 15 new paramedic trainees graduate last Friday from our program, which offers full-time employment to EMTs as they obtain their paramedic certification. With all o

Being an EMS provider is an incredibly rewarding job. It can also be heartbreaking – like the day our team responded to a call that included Minneapolis Officer Jamal Mitchell, whom we sadly lost in the line of duty. Losing a fellow first responder causes a wound that we can’t quickly heal, if at all.

In this WCCO & CBS News Minnesota interview, Hennepin EMS Paramedic Angela Erikson and Dr. Nick Simpson speak eloquently and honestly with reporter Jennifer Mayerle about the pain that we can carry after traumatic calls. Thank you, Angela and Nick, and to all EMS workers and first responders who bravely face the unknown every day.

First responders share trauma of call of fallen Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell "It's terrible. It's one of your co-workers, it's one of your friends. You don't necessarily know who it is. It's wrong. It's the worst," Hennepin EMS Paramedic Angela Erikson said.

Summer may be winding down, but our event schedule is not! If you are heading to one of the many events and concerts in Minneapolis this weekend, look around for our Hennepin EMS team members offering EMS support.

Want to know more about our community event capabilities? Hennepin EMS Deputy Chief Andy Jakacki recently wrote about these special services in the Sun Sailor newspaper.

https://bit.ly/3Mbf0c4

Recently, our Hennepin EMS Fleet Coordinator Tom Myhre and Lead Mechanic Tony MacDonald visited the REV Group production factory where our ambulances are manufactured. In addition to touring the facility in Orlando, FL, the team got to inspect a HEMS ambulance in the process of being built!

Hennepin EMS Paramedic Ali Gaffney was awarded a SKOL Service Game Ball in recognition of her outstanding service to the guests at U.S. Bank Stadium during the Morgan Wallen concert this June.

Ali was assigned to the transport ambulance for this event and was busy almost the entire night. Ali and her partner transported numerous patients and did an excellent job turning calls around quickly to return to position for the next transport.

Ali, thank you for your commitment to creating memorable experiences through service excellence while providing a safe, world-class sports and entertainment for all.

Pictured with Ali are Special Operations Deputy Chief Andy Jakacki (left) and Battalion Chief Peter Money.

Thank you to Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Rep. Ilhan Omar for supporting the mission of Hennepin EMS by providing funding to improve the quality of care we provide. The portable ultrasound devices have positively impacted patient outcomes on numerous occasions by providing our paramedics the capability to view cardiac activity, fluid on the lungs, abdominal aortic aneurysm, abdominal organ trauma, and much more. Earlier detection of life threatening illness or injury has saved lives, and we're grateful for the capability to use this tool.

Football is back!

In case you missed it, we had 15 new paramedic trainees graduate last Friday from our program, which offers full-time employment to EMTs as they obtain their paramedic certification. With all our innovative pipeline programs at HEMS, our goal is to ease staff shortages and improve diversity by making EMS careers more accessible. The Star Tribune did a story on our program and one of our graduates who is a cancer survivor and has a particularly inspiring story, Infinity Beatty-Metcalfe. It was reposted here in EMS 1. Please give it a read!

Minn. EMS looks at paramedic diversity to improve minority patient outcomes The Hennepin EMS internship exposes students of color and females to careers in EMS based on workforce research

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Every month, we round up our latest initiatives, events and HEMS happenings and deliver them right to your inbox. Use the link to subscribe.

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It’s just another meeting until someone brings cake.

Earlier this month, the Metro Region EMS System invited EMS agencies to the first “Collaborate with Cake” event. It was a great time to come together, outside of a critical incident, and proactively talk about how we can better coordinate our efforts in an emergency. Hennepin EMS hosted the first event, which brought EMS agency leaders from across the metro.

It’s a frightening statistic, and one Hennepin EMS crews unfortunately see firsthand. Opioids have killed more than 4,000 people in Minnesota over the past five years. Thanks to the Sahan Journal for shedding light on the opioid epidemic and the disturbing death-rate disparities for different communities.

Overlooked: Who suffers the most from the opioid epidemic in Minnesota? Sahan Journal examined 240,000 death records in Minnesota to produce a clear and startling picture of who is dying most often from fentanyl and other opioid overdoses.

Recently, eight Hennepin EMS paramedics stepped up to join the Tech Rescue Medic program. As part of their initial training, they completed a Rope Rescue Technician course.

Thanks to these individuals, and all of our HEMS team, for your dedication to being ready for anything and everything at all times.

Congrats to Paramedic Program Lab Coordinator Toby Oehler, who completed the EMS Memorial Bike Ride earlier this summer.

The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, Inc. honors Emergency Medical Services personnel by organizing and implementing long-distance cycling events that memorialize and celebrate the lives of those who serve every day, those who have become sick or injured while performing their duties, and those who have died in the line of duty.

This is Toby’s seventh time participating in the ride – he has been a rider, and also volunteered as support staff in the past.

This year he rode for three different honorees:

• Andrew Cutting, a paramedic with Skokie Fire Department;
• Michael John Higgins, a firefighter/paramedic with Grayslake Fire Department;
• Lastly, he rode for Robert Lee Pearson, a firefighter/paramedic with Pafford EMS.

Congrats, Toby, for completing the ride. And thank you for your dedication to EMS.

Did you know that Hennepin EMS has a monthly newsletter? Our June issue can be found at the link below!

And if you are looking to subscribe, click the "Join our email list" button in the upper right corner of the newsletter:

Monthly news from Hennepin EMS The HEMS Dispatch - June 2024   We're officially halfway through the 2024 calendar, it’s with great pride that I share Hennepin EMS has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Minnesota Emer

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Hennepin EMS!

We’re honored to serve our communities and ensure everyone has a safe and memorable Fourth of July.

Please join us in congratulating our newest Hennepin EMS Paramedic Trainee Academy graduates.

Last month, we welcomed this group of dedicated recruits in a badging ceremony alongside their friends and family. We’re excited to watch these individuals grow in their careers here at HEMS!

Congratulations to the new graduates of our Pathways program!

Newly obtaining their EMT certificates, these 20 individuals are now eligible for a variety of first responder job opportunities. The goal of this program, which is done in partnership with the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Fire, is to fill more first responder jobs with qualified candidates that reflect the multilingual and culturally diverse communities we serve. Graduates of our Pathways program have been hired as Minneapolis firefighters, Hennepin EMS dispatchers, and into the Hennepin EMS trainee program, ultimately becoming HEMS paramedics. Congrats!

The Twin Cities Pride Festival is Minnesota’s second largest festival (only after the State Fair) and the largest FREE Pride festival in the United States celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community.

With several events taking place in Minneapolis, Hennepin EMS is offering medical support to festival attendees and volunteers. In addition to the festival in Loring Park, EMS support will be offered during the Rainbow Run 5K and the annual Pride Parade.

There are many health benefits to drinking water. In honor of National Hydration Day, consider these tips for staying hydrated:

💧 Carry a bottle of water and refill it regularly throughout the day.

💧 Get your fluids from water or other low-calorie beverages like plain coffee or tea.

💧 Drink at regular times, such as during meals.

💧 Drink extra fluids before, during and after exercise.

💧 Drink extra fluids during hot weather or when you are sick.

💧 Get medical help if you are experiencing confusion, fainting, rapid breathing or rapid heart rate. These could be signs of severe dehydration.

We’re gearing up for a big few weeks of event EMS!

Minneapolis is set to host the USA Gymnastics Championships, where athletes compete for a spot on the 2024 USA Olympic Team. This event includes nine days of events and entertainment downtown Minneapolis.

There will be an uptick in activity at many locations, including the Minneapolis Convention Center, Nicollet Mall, Target Center and Target Field. When you see our HEMS team out and about, say hello!

This rainy weather just keeps coming! Here are a few safety tips for when severe weather is on the horizon:

⛈ When it comes to lightning, you might hear the thunder first – move inside if you can as soon as you hear thunder or see lightning.

⛈ If you’re in or near water, move well away from the water – and ideally inside – and don’t resume water activities until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last thunder or lightning.

⛈ In the event you’re unable to move to an indoor location, move away from high ground and lightning magnets like lone trees, poles and fences with metal components.

⛈ If you are at an outdoor event, listen to event organizers and follow any safety instructions.

Pay attention to weather alerts and stay safe this summer!

June 19 is a significant day in American history. Now a federal holiday, Juneteenth honors the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery over two years earlier.

Today, we reflect on the importance of freedom for all and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Hennepin EMS serves a diverse community while upholding the values of equity and inclusivity, and acknowledging the lessons learned from America’s past.