Molly Devanney of Highland Park Market surprised ASM road crews and office staff with ice cream on Thursday. Molly and other staff at Highland Park wanted to show their appreciation for First Responders. The timing was perfect with the temperatures hovering near 90 degrees for most of the week. ASM would like give our sincere thanks to Highland Park Market for all of their support at events held throughout the course of the year.
SOUTH WINDSOR- On Wednesday, July 10th, 2019, Ambulance Service of Manchester Paramedic Josh Conroy and EMTs Stacey Debarge, Justin Craig, and Ashley DeBisschop visited South Windsor Police Department’s Summer Youth Academy. The ASM crew worked alongside SWPD Officers to provide tours of both an ALS and BLS ambulance during a question and answer session with the students. Thank you to SWPD Officer Tina Roy and Corporal. Ben White for coordinating the event.
The New Britain Bee’s celebrated the Fourth of July by honoring First Responders Thursday night. The Bee’s provided ASM and Aetna with 50 free tickets to the 6:35pm game against the Somerset Patriots. Fans enjoyed food and Fireworks, as the two teams battled to a 0 – 0 tie.
MANCHESTER: Ambulance Service of Manchester Paramedic Robert Bilodeau and EMTs Sandra Parker and Amanda Larochelle received the following feedback from a patient satisfaction survey. “From the moment that the ASM crew entered my apartment, I knew I was in good hands. As they began to glean information, it was apparent that they were concerned and extremely professional. They assessed my condition rapidly and began treatment at once. They performed perfectly as a team and also alleviated my anxiety by explaining exactly what and why they were doing it. Once I was in the ambulance, the [crew] gave me anti-nausea medication which gave me immediate relief from discomfort, as well as, anxiety. I am confident it provided a certain level of relief to the ambulance crew as well. As proof of the team’s efficiency, my blood pressure markedly lowered from the time they arrived at my apartment to the time I arrived at the hospital. If you wish to share any or all of this story with the public, you have permission.”
On Sunday, June 9th Aetna and ASM came together to compete in the 2019 “You’re Killing Me Smalls,” softball tournament. On this beautiful sunny day, players, friends and family enjoyed food, drinks and games while the teams battled it out. Highland Park Market graciously donated ice cream for both the players and the spectators. Aetna took the lead,winning the first two games, showing that they came to play. ASM fought back,winning the next two games, setting up a winner take all final game to determine the champion. In the end ASM defeated Aetna 20 – 13 and took the trophy home. The trophy will remain with ASM until next year’s games! All proceeds from the event will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Message from ASM’s coach:
I would first like to say thank you. Without the players, fans and management this would never have been possible. We were looking for good weather, we got that for sure. We asked for two good teams and what we got was two great teams. Everyone played their hearts out. I truly appreciate all the thanks received from everyone. A coach is nothing without great players so, I thank you again and I look forward to coaching in the future.
Congratulations!!!
Tim LaChappelle
Stay tuned for kickball, it’s next!
In January of 2019, the Ambulance Service of Manchester collaborated with Manchester Fire Department and Manchester High School to inaugurate the first EMT class. The program totaled 200 hours and taught the students the basics of patient assessment, how to treat trauma/medical emergencies, and most importantly, leadership. This program had a total of 80 applicants, which was then reduced to 18 students. The students attended class three days a week for 3 hours in addition to their busy school day. At the end of the program students were qualified to take their State Practical and National Written Competency Exam. After obtaining the EMT certification, graduates will be permitted to apply for jobs or volunteer at local fire departments, ambulance services, hospital emergency rooms, and college rescue squads. The collaboration between the Ambulance Service of Manchester, Manchester Fire Department, and Manchester High School has been outstanding. Together, we are increasing the number of certified EMTs as there is a national shortage of EMS professionals.
A special thanks to Chris Myska, Sean Norton, Andrew Hedberg, Bryan Goulet, Chuck Roode, Greg Derosier, Tim Houle, Dan Heald, Rich Fortier, Mike Karanda and Chris Ferguson for helping with the instruction of these classes.
SOUTH WINDSOR- On Saturday June 1st, 2019 South Windsor Police Department, Masonic Lodge #88, and the Ambulance Service of Manchester teamed up to accept food and monetary donations at Geissler’s Supermarket and Stop & Shop of South Windsor. At the end of the day, over 2460 food items went on the shelves of the South Windsor Food and Fuel Bank along with $1478.43 in the collection box beating last year’s total.
MANCHESTER- On Saturday May 11th, Ambulance Service of Manchester and Manchester Area Conference of Churches (MACC) worked together with the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO) for a local charity event. Postal workers collected food donations left by mailboxes all across the town of Manchester. The collected food was brought back to the Sheldon Road Post Office where ASM employees then transported the donations to MACC food pantry on Main Street. ASM staff helped unload and sort all of the donations along with local volunteers. Over the 25 year history of this event, more than 1 Billion pounds of food have been collected nationally.
MANCHESTER — On May 13th, 2019 five EMTs were added to the ASM team. As part of our continued growth, Aetna and ASM seek out only the best candidates. We look for employees who are focused on high-quality patient care, are team oriented and conduct themselves in a professional manner. During the orientation, employees learn about company philosophy and goals, quality assurance, and policies and procedures.
Kayla Katt: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Kayla Katt. I am 24 yrs old and am from New York, originally, but moved to Connecticut 6 yrs ago to get my Bachelors in Biology from the University of New Haven. I gained my love for EMS when I attended my EMT course in efforts to complete prerequisites to attend PA school. After getting a taste of EMS and serving my surrounding community, I haven’t been able to leave. I am an enlisted member in the Connecticut Air National Guard and I am in the most recent graduating class of paramedics from Capital Community College. I look forward to taking advantage of the experience being provided to me and becoming the best provider possible.
Kenneth Shaffer: FULL TIME, EMT.My name is Kenneth Shaffer, I am 26 years old. I have been an EMT going on 2 years. I fell in love with EMS after seeing parents serve the community as EMT’s as I grew up. I am currently in paramedic school looking to one day become a Firefighter Paramedic. I look forward to the experience and knowledge I will obtain here at ASM.
Stephen Michna: FULLTIME, EMT. Hi there, my name is Stephen and I have served as an EMT since 2006. I worked for a private service in the Boston area for 3 years and have been a member of Harwinton Volunteer Ambulance for 7 years. I enjoy the opportunity to serve my community, and have wanted to be an EMT since I was 8 years old. I also have a background in engineering, and spent several years living in Germany working with wind turbines. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and riding motorcycles. I look forward to joining ASM!
Anthony Freitas. FULL TIME, EMT. Hello my name is Anthony Freitas, I am 22 years old from Marlborough, CT. Apart from working out and traveling, pursuing a medical career has been my dream forever. I grew up listening to hospital drama during family dinners and events. Becoming a cardiac monitor technician at St. Francis Hospital, I began to hear and learn more about the medical field, leading me to pursue a profession in healthcare. Currently I am taking classes to become a Physicians Assistant, while obtaining patient contact hours as an EMT. New to EMS, I was fortunate enough to become another team member of a proud and respected company such as ASM. I look forward to learning not only how to do things right, but to do things better than “by the book”. Through experiences and training with ASM, I will become a valued teammate and responder.
Danielle Kamenskiy: FULL TIME, EMT.My name is Danielle Kamenskiy and I am 22 years old. I grew up in Simsbury, but am now living in Vernon. I am a recent graduate of UConn with a degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology, and am hoping to become an ophthalmologist in the future. I obtained my EMT-B certification through CPR Training Professionals. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors or spending time with family and friends. I am passionate about helping others, and I look forward to working with ASM to make a positive impact on my community.
MANCHESTER — On May 15th, 2019, ASM’s Gregory Derosier was promoted to the position of Field Supervisor. His remarkable dedication to both his patients and co-workers has been consistent throughout his career at ASM. Moreover, Greg has been an instrumental piece of ASM’s education and community relations programs. He has developed into a role model for health care professionals and continues to positively influence everyone he interacts with.
Greg expressed his gratitude for the well-deserved promotion by stating the following:
“I received so many text and e-mails from all of you congratulating me; thank you all so much. I have worked for ASM for nearly three decades and seen more than a few changes; one constant has been the friendship and camaraderie of my coworkers. I have been blessed to work with some of the most compassionate, devoted and brightest people. I have had the opportunity to precept employees who have continued to become physicians, PA’s, nurses and managers both here at ASM and abroad. I look forward to working with everyone at ASM and maintaining a kinship so that we may all grow. Working together we are better as individuals and as a company.”
On behalf of the ASM family we would like to congratulate Greg on his promotion and look forward to great things from him.
The “National EMS Memorial Bike Ride” is a long distance bicycle ride from Boston to Washington D.C. every May comprised mainly of EMTs and Paramedics who ride for EMS Line of Duty Deaths and Legacy. Ambulance Service of Manchester hosted approximately 130 riders and support staff on Mother’s Day, May 12th 2019. Bicyclists traveled from Sturbridge Massachusetts to ASM in cold weather rain and even hail during this leg of their journey. When they arrived at ASM, employees pulled together providing a home cooked lunch, hot coffee and blankets as a safe haven from the unsettling weather.
A special thanks to Ambulance Service of Manchester employees Briyanna Decaprio, Michael Sparks, Mike Makulis, Matt Kleeza, Josh Traber, Adam Fine, and Carolyn Edwards. All went above and beyond to provide food, fuel and encouragement to the deserving riders and supporters. We look forward to next year’s ride!
Bike Route:
Orientation (May 10) – Boston in the evening
Day 1 (May 11) – Boston, MA to Sturbridge, MA
Day 2 (May 12) – Sturbridge, MA to New Haven, CT
Day 3 (May 13) – New Haven, CT to Yonkers, NY
Day 4 (May 14) – Yonkers, NY to Princeton, NJ
Day 5 (May 15) – Princeton, NJ to Wilmington, DE
Day 6 (May 16) – Wilmington, DE to Annapolis, MD (join Southern)
Day 7 (May 17) – Annapolis, MD to National Harbor, MD
National EMS Memorial Service at National Harbor May 18, 2019
For additional information please visit www.muddyangels.org
Ambulance Service of Manchester appeared in a Fox 61 news article and segment this past Monday evening alongside Manchester Fire Rescue EMS. Please see below to read the article and click here view the segment by Reporter Jim Altman.
MANCHESTER – You could say they are taking a page from the Nascar playbook because the Manchester Fire Department, joined by the Ambulance Service of Manchester takes a bit of a left turn when it comes to their C-P-R training.
Officially, Battalion Chief Josh Beaulieu, calls it the “Pit Crew Model for Cardiac Arrest Management”, but in life-saving circles it’s known simply as “Pit Crew CPR”. Much like how a racing crew feverishly tends to a car in the pits, so do Manchester Firefighters when it comes to responding to a cardiac arrest patient.
“Everybody has a role,” Beaulieu said. “Those roles might be compressions, it might be the person assigned to deal with the family, it might be the person managing the airway and breathing for the patient.”
Chief Beaulieu, a 21 year vet of the department, added that the town of Manchester has been supportive in providing resources when responding to cardiac arrest calls – as many as ten first responders can answer a life-saving call. He said, “a cardiac arrest requires a lot of work and a lot of hands to save someone’s life and that’s exactly what we are doing.”
MANCHESTER- On Wednesday May 1st, 2019 Team ASM-Aetna hosted its third American Red Cross Blood Drive at ASM’s headquarters. Numerous employees, friends, and family members participated in the day-long event. Aetna and ASM have committed to hosting a drive at least twice a year. Thank you to all of the new and returning donors and we look forward to the next event!
A note from Red Cross Account Manager for Donor Recruitment
Alissa Haight Aguda:
“ASM smashed it out of the park on Wednesday. To recap our results we had 30 presenting donors, 3 deferrals for a grand total of 27 successful donations. This will ultimately help 91 hospital patients in need of blood plasma and platelets!”
“Thank you so much again for your dedication to the American Red Cross!”
On Saturday April 27th, students from Manchester High School participated in a hands-on extrication and transport exercise as part of their EMT-Basic program. The course, taught by Ambulance Service of Manchester and Manchester Fire Rescue EMS, has 18 committed students, all of whom were able to observe the process of extrication, practice removing victims from a bus and car, and render necessary care on a simulation manikin while in a moving ambulance. The “extrication drill” day is always one of the highlights of an EMT program.
