Category Archives: Public Reports

History Competition Won with Hartford Circus Fire Project featuring Aetna Ambulance

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HARTFORD – Up-and-coming historian Sam Porcello has won several awards with a project on the Hartford Circus Fire that incorporated the birth and early days of Aetna Ambulance Service. (Click here for more about Aetna and the Circus Fire). Attached are pictures of the exhibit during National History Day at the Museum of American History (The Circus Fire exhibit was selected to represent Connecticut).

The physical display, as shown, contains a panel on Aetna Ambulance.  The project started life at the Regional History Day competition on March 9th at Torrington High School and was visited by Grady daughter Dianne Evans and her daughters. Sam then advanced to the State Competition at Central Connecticut State University on April 27th, where the exhibit earned first place.

 On June 13, the exhibit won the silver medal at the National Competition in Maryland where the judges were fascinated by canvas squares with information from the survivors and Aetna Ambulance.  The origins of Aetna was read and appreciated by many hundreds of people.

Sam says, “During the interview at Nationals, the judges asked about what surprised me the most about the project, and I told them about the beginnings of Aetna Ambulance, including how the Grady’s tried to conceal their ownership.”

The exhibit will be at Connecticut’s Old State House in July, along with many other state entries.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 1

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Hartford Circus Fire - Aetna Ambulance Serviceby Sam Porcello

For the past three years, I have participated in National History Day, a nationwide historical research competition for middle and high school students.  The theme for 2013 is “Turning Points in History: People, Places and Ideas.”   I chose the Hartford Circus Fire as my topic because I have always been intrigued how every July 6th, amid the cheerful Fourth of July stories, my local news always includes a report about the 1944 fire.  I wanted to find out why a 10 minute event continues to be discussed 68 years later, and what changes it brought about.

The tragic fire occurred on July 6, 1944 on Barbour Street in Hartford during an afternoon performance of the Ringling Brothers circus.  It was one month after D-Day. Connecticut, a major defense manufacturer with its Pratt aircraft, Colt firearms and Waterbury brass foundries, had a thorough emergency plan in place in case of enemy attack.  This plan included using delivery vans from local businesses such as Aetna Florist, Colt, and Brown Thompson as ambulances to transport the injured…check back for future volumes.

Schedule of EMS Week 2013 Events and Activities

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EMS Week 2013 - Aetna Ambulance Ambulance Service of ManchesterEMS Week 2013

Sunday, May 19th 

  • 0700: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
  • 1500: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
  • 2300: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
Monday, May 20th
  • 0900-1400: Hartford Hospital (Conklin Building) EMS Update, Lunch to be served.
Tuesday, May 21st
  • 0700-0900: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Breakfast.
  • 1130-1330: Burrito BBQ Lunch, Saint Francis Hospital, Emergency Department.
Wednesday, May 22nd
  • 1200-1400: Hartford Hospital (outside of Conklin Building) Annual Cookout.
  • 1730-1900: Hartford Hospital (outside of Conklin Building) Annual Cookout.
Thursday, May 23rd
  • 0700-0900: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, breakfast.
  • 1700-1900: Burrito BBQ Dinner, Saint Francis Hospital, Emergency Department.
  • 1730: Saint Francis Hospital EMS Champion Awards Ceremony, Emergency Department, ambulance bay area.
  • 1800: Johnson Memorial Medical Center BBQ & CME: Two CME hours for “EMS Responding to IEDs” lecture that follows BBQ at CMEC Ampitheatre (the building on the right as you enter the main hospital driveway).
Friday, May 24th
  • 0700: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Baked Goods from ED staff.
  • 1500: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Baked Goods from ED staff.
  • 2300: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Baked Goods from ED staff.
Saturday, May 25th
  • 0700: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Fresh Fruit available
  • 1500: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Fresh Fruit available
  • 2300: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Fresh Fruit available

If your organization, facility or agency is having an EMS Week event in the greater Hartford area and you do not see it listed here, please fill out the contact form, post it as a comment or email it to us at DavidS [at] asm-aetna.com.

Blizzard Warnings in Effect for the Entire State

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Storm TrackerPOTENTIALLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM TO IMPACT STATE TODAY AND SATURDAY

Blizzard Warnings are now in effect for the entire state until 1:00 PM Saturday Afternoon.  Blizzard Warnings are issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below ¼ mile for at least three hours which is expected tonight.

This Morning: Light snow developing across the state between 7:00 – 9:00 AM becoming moderate and steady by noon.  Temperatures holding in the upper 20’s in Northern CT and near 30 F along the coast.

This Afternoon: Snow in Northern CT with a mix in Southern CT becoming heavy at times between 1:00 – 3:00 PM with temperatures holding in the upper 20’s in Northern CT and near 30 F at the coast.

This Evening and Overnight: Blizzard conditions with any mixed precipitation changing to all snow by 7:00 PM.  Snowfall rates up to 5” per hour with zero visibilities at times and blowing and drifting snow.  Lows dropping into the low 20’s statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 40 MPH inland and up to 60 MPH along the coast.  Moderate power outages and moderate coastal flooding expected with high tide just before midnight in Western Long Island Sound.

Saturday Morning: Heavy snow tapering to moderate snow from West to East between 7:00 – 10:00 AM.  Strong North Winds gusting to 40 MPH Inland and 50 MPH at the Coast.  Zero visibilities at times with Blizzard Conditions until 10:00 AM.

Saturday Afternoon: Moderate snow tapering off to light snow and ending by 3:00 PM.  Continued blowing and drifting of snow with Northwest winds gusting to 40 MPH at times and ground blizzard conditions at times.

Total snowfall may be historic with 12 – 24” in Western CT, 20 – 36” in Central and Eastern CT and 15 – 30” along the coast.  Isolated amounts to 40” may occur.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest forecasts and will issue another update at 10:00 AM.

This product is a public service of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and is intended for informational purposes only.  DESPP assumes no liability for the use or distribution of this product or any actions resulting from this product.

Winter Storm Update: DESPP Alert

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Storm Track2013

MAJOR WINTER STORM STILL EXPECTED FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON

BLIZZARD WATCHES ISSUED FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN CONNECTICUT

With 24 hours to go before the start of this storm, the forecast confidence is fair to good at this time.  Any changes in the storm track will significantly change snowfall amounts.

Towns are advised to review their local Emergency Operations Plans.

The National Weather Service has issued Blizzard Watches for Central and Eastern Connecticut.  Winter Storm Watches are in effect for Litchfield and Fairfield Counties.

The latest computer models continue to forecast that a Major Winter Storm will impact our area Friday afternoon, Friday night and Saturday morning.   The latest track forecast for this storm is predicting that a low pressure system will form south of the Del Mar Va Peninsula Friday afternoon and then rapidly intensity as the storm moves Northeast Friday night to a position southeast of Nantucket by 7:00 AM Saturday morning.  Light snow is forecast to start Friday around daybreak remaining light for several hours.  The snow may mix with rain at times from late morning into the mid afternoon in Southern CT.  The snow is then forecast to become heavy by late afternoon with a change to all snow along the coast.  Heavy snow is expected overnight on Friday, into Saturday morning, ending early afternoon on Saturday.  Total snowfall is expected to range from 10 – 20” in Southern CT up to 16 – 26” in Northern CT.

Strong Northeast winds are also expected with sustained winds of 20 – 30 MPH Friday night gusting to 55 MPH inland and 70 MPH at times along the coast.  These strong winds may bring down trees and power lines resulting in a moderate number of power outages.  Some coastal flooding is expected during the time of high tide Friday night just before midnight with minor flooding possible.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest forecasts and will issue another update at 3:00 PM this afternoon.

This product is a public service of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and is intended for informational purposes only. DESPP assumes no liability for the use or distribution of this product or any actions resulting from this product.

Influenza Advisory

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Office of Emergency Medical ServicesTO: All EMS Care Providers

FROM: Raphael M. Barishansky, Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services

This year’s influenza or “flu” season has been producing a high number of cases. This communication highlights the scope of the problem and reminds providers to take all appropriate precautions to limit the spread of this illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have classified this year’s seasonal flu as an epidemic, with 47 states reporting widespread flu activity. The following are some Connecticut-specific statistics that DPH has collected and analyzed as of 1/09/2013:

  • The percentage of outpatient visits with influenza-like illness (ILI – defined as a cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause, and the presence of a fever > 100° F) is almost twice that of the previous two flu seasons
  • There have been more persons hospitalized with influenza-associated illness during the past five weeks than the entire 2011-2012 flu season.
  • There have been 55% more reports of positive laboratory tests for influenza for the first three weeks of this flu season compared to the entire 2011-2012 season.
  • Respiratory influenza activity has most commonly peaked in February, so we may continue to experience a serious influenza season for some time to come. OEMS recommends that you review information on influenza as well as your respiratory protection plans.
  • Information is available on the CDC and CT DPH flu websites. The following are some tips to protect from influenza transmission:

GET VACCINATED! While it is ideal to receive the influenza vaccine earlier in the season, it is still of benefit to obtain a vaccination now.
BE PREPARED. Check your service’s inventories: N95 masks; simple surgical masks; alcohol-based hand sanitizer; ambulance decontamination spray
WASH YOUR HANDS! Wash them upon arrival for shift; before and after eating; after ANY contact with ANY patient; if you have worked on computers at the hospital; after ambulance decontamination.
WEAR PPE CONSISTENTLY. Follow droplet precautions in accordance with your respiratory protection plan. Consider having patients presenting with ILI symptoms wear a simple surgical mask or oxygen mask.
THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION. Don’t forget: Stretcher straps, ceiling hand rails, door handles, driver’s compartment surfaces, portable & fixed O2 tanks, stairchair, jumpkits, toughbooks and clipboards.

Schedule of EMS Week 2012 Events and Activities

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EMS Week 2012

Sunday, May 20th 

  • 0700: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
  • 1100-1400: Windham Hospital EMS, Open House and BBQ.
  • 1200-1600: First Responders Appreciation Picnic and Media Day, West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford.
  • 1500: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
  • 2300: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
Monday, May 21st
  • 0800: Morning Coffee and Breakfast Treats at Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospital EMS Rooms.
  • 0800-1400: Hartford Hospital (Conklin Building) 3rd Annual STEMI Conference, Lunch to be served.
  • 1000: CT EMS Council Awards Ceremony, Legislative Office Building Room 1D, space is limited.
  • 1730: Late Afternoon Snack at Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospital EMS Rooms. Continue reading →

Capitol Region Posts Report on Johnson Memorial Medical Center Evacuation

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Aetna ASM Johnson Memorial Medical Center Hospital Evacuation

Aetna and ASM in staging for the evacuation of Johnson Memorial.

The After Action Report (AAR) associated with the evacuation of Johnson Memorial Medical Center following Tropical Storm Irene has been posted by the Capitol Region Council of Governments and their regional disaster management committee.

As part of the JMMC family, ASM and Aetna provided significant ambulance transport during the evacuation. Read the after action report (AAR) here…  Continue reading →