Lion of the Day Marian Gilkerson, with a little help from her friends, updated fellow Lions Club members on the Paramedic program currently in place for Cushing Firefighters. Gilkerson, who also happens to be the Cushing Regional Hospital Foundation director, has played the role of facilitator of the Paramedic program by heading up fundraisers through the Foundation.
Gilkerson described the efforts as a “large puzzle” that benefits everyone through group efforts.
“The citizens of Cushing have done a fantastic job supporting our efforts,” Gilkerson said. CRH Foundation has hosted two Charity Golf Events to raise funds for the Paramedic Scholarship Program. “The golf tournament raised $28,000 the first year and $18,000 the second year,” she continued. A third tournament is scheduled for May 15, 2010.
To date, three firefighters are nearing completion of the program (they will graduate in June) and three more started in Feb. of this year.
“These guys have set the standards in the class,” Gilkerson said proudly.
She also expressed her gratitude to Central Tech for creating the curriculum. “Patti Pounce, Adult Education Coordinator at Central Tech, helped create the paramedic class primarily for our students.” The program, which utilizes video conferencing, has several students other than Cushing firefighters enrolled.
Fire Chief Brent Kerr echoed Gilkerson’s praise of Central Tech, “Vo-tech has been awesome. They helped our guys go from basic to intermediate by creating a program and now the paramedic program.” He also gave kudos to Gilkerson saying, “Without Marian we wouldn’t be moving ahead the way we are.”
Both Gilkerson and Kerr commended the City of Cushing for providing the department a new ambulance equipped with the necessary tools needed once the paramedic training is completed.
Cushing Regional Hospital is also playing an integral part in the process by working directly with the paramedic students and providing a place to do their 100 hours of emergency room training – 40 hours of which is spent with ER nurses and 60 hours spent “shadowing” a doctor. Cushing Regional Hospital ER manager Suzie Brown, R.N. spoke briefly to the Lions about what the emergency room training entails. “Nurses oversee the students as they work in ICU and surgery as well as the ER,” Brown said. “During the shadowing process, they learn how to assess a patient and get to know exactly what the doctor is looking for.”
Brown had nothing but positive things to say about the promise of having paramedics on ambulance runs.
“We already have one of the most excellent ambulance services,” she concluded. “Time can be such a critical factor. Once trained, paramedics will be able to start IVs breathing treatments and even administer necessary drugs. Life saving will be increased greatly. We love it! We can’t wait until they’re up and running. It’s been great watching these guys grow.”
“When they graduate, there’s going to be a party,” Gilkerson smiled.
Anyone interested in participating in the 2010 Charity Golf Event can contact Marian Gilkerson at (918) 225-8125.
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