Club Business
President O’Donnell opened the meeting at 12:11.
Jim Cartner provided the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance.
No birthdays this week; three wedding anniversaries: Chris Jernigan, Cliff Parker, and Thomas Phelps.
April 27th is “Devil Dog Day”, “Babe Ruth Day”, and according to an early intellectual, the universe was created in 4977BC. First social security checks in 1937, President U.S. Grant was born in 1822.
Thoughts: “I have everything I wanted as a teenager just 60 years later.” “Bread is like the sun; it rises in the “yeast” and sets in the “waste.”
Opportunities in May include a Feed the Hunger event, District Rotary Foundation Dinner in Greensboro, and the District Golf Tournament. Actual dates will be posted by President O’Donnell.
President O’Donnell reported on the Fundraiser. Micah Fox won the “split the pot” raffle; Kirk Tucker, Carolyn Rhode, and Mary Thomas Gilbert’s teams were the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trivia teams. Mary Thomas’s team donated their winnings ($50) to the Rotaract club along with what they paid to have a Rotaract member join their team.
Program: Alex Della-Penna – Alamance Community College
Carolyn Rhode introduced the speaker, Alex Della-Penna. Alex is a graduate of Elon University and Alamance Community College. He is originally from Connecticut but has spent many years in NC and considers himself a North Carolinian. His wife is a 4th-year medical student at UNC Chapel Hill. Alex is a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He is responsible for the growing EMS/EMT Programs which are accredited at ACC.
The program at ACC is responsible for training new EMT and paramedic candidates at various skill levels. It is also responsible for providing ongoing training for EMTs and other emergency medical personnel for fire departments and other EMS providers. Essential workers are trained at ACC.
Alex stated that EMT training is similar to CNA requirements and paramedic training is similar to nursing training. Scope and skill levels are continuing to expand. The program is growing at ACC. They are also providing professional certification to non-medical professionals in CPR. The goal is to significantly increase the number of people certified in CPR.
Training facilities at ACC are expanding. Will use simulation and video capabilities to improve decision-making in non-live threatening environments. Will have ambulance and emergency room simulation areas. Also, domestic spaces that include a limited access bathroom. Alex commented that most falls occur in bathrooms and in many cases the spaces are small and the victim is blocking access to the room itself. Want to practice and develop skills in a safe environment.
During a Q&A session, Alex was asked if hazmat training was provided. Hazmat training is provided especially for fire department personnel. Want to provide CPR classes every day. Will provide training on request at various worksites. PE Brook asked what could the Rotary Club do to help? Work with HS students to have more on a path to work and volunteer for EMS organizations.
Alex clarified that EMS represents the emergency service provider organizations. EMTs and paramedics are the individuals that man the EMS organizations. Nationwide, 75% of fire service is provided by volunteer departments. EMS is more professional and requires 4 to 8 hours of training every week.
ACC provides a 2-year paramedic program with an associate’s degree.
When asked about the opioid crisis in Alamance County, while Alex did not have actual data, he believes the crisis is still significant here. Asked about abuse; children, elderly, and spousal, he did not have data.
Conclusion
The meeting closed with the 4 Way test led jointly by President Dick and PDG Moore.