Local youth attends emergency medical service conference

HARDYSTON-Thomas "Hap" Wiggins of Hardyston recently attended the 2005 Emergency Medical Services' EMS Today conference in Philadelphia. The conference offered continuing education courses for all levels of emergency medical personnel. Wiggins, a junior at Wallkill Valley Regional High School, devotes a minimum of 36 hours each month to the Hardyston First Aid Squad. He views his service as a necessary part of life as a resident; since the town has given so much to him, it's his responsibility to give back. He wishes more high school students would get involved with the squad; it might make them think twice before taking chances with their health or the health of their friends. As part of Wiggins' training as an emergency medical technician with the Hardyston First Aid Squad, he is required to continually seek training to improve his patient care skills. One of the sessions he attended was a two-hour trauma session entitled Traumatic Brain Injury, with new techniques critical to minimizing brain damage in patients. Identifying the level of injury and the proper emergency responses to serious head injuries was the primary focus. Wiggins also attended management courses focused on the future of emergency medical services, both the scientific and medicinal, as well as the practical management issues that face a small volunteer squad. The keynote address, "Service with a Smile: Dealing with the Difficult Patient," was given by Steve Berry. A. J. Heightman, Journal of Emergency Medical Services editor and EMS Today's program director, said that the feedback received from instructors and attendees alike indicated that this was the best EMS Today program ever. The program featured over 100 courses taught by more than 75 national experts. Sessions were geared to emergency technicians, paramedics, instructors, managers, and those involved with weapons of mass destruction and homeland response. A research summit presented sessions on controversies in cardiovascular emergencies, airway management and trauma resuscitation. Over 2,500 emergency medical services professionals attended, along with over 200 exhibitors and 700 exhibitor representatives.