With the recent spike in documented cases of COVID-19 – both in Connecticut and nationwide – first responders are at greater risk of contracting the virus. For that reason, they have been reminded that, when answering calls, they must take care of themselves as well as their patients.

Naturally, they’re advised to wear masks, goggles and gowns and told to place masks on their patients. But they’ve also been notified to limit the number of persons in attendance to prevent exposure to the disease – with, if possible, one EMT and one fire personnel in a residence to assist.

Anything else? Yes. Killingworth Ambulance Association EMTs recently were given directions to follow when attending potential COVID-19 patients. Here are some of the recommendations:

• When in the ambulance, turn on the vent.
• Use temporal thermometers, otherwise known as forehead thermometers.
• Notify the hospital that you are transporting a patient with shortness of breath or a fever and advise it of respiratory precautions.
• Wash your hands with soap and water a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Use paper towels to shut the faucet and open doors.
• Decontaminate the entire ambulance, not just the patient compartment. That includes the steering wheel, all microphones and radios in the front and back and all door handles inside and out.
• At the end of ambulance run, remove and replace all personal protective equipment, including clothing, masks, goggles designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection.

“KAA personal are taking this very seriously,” said Dan O’Sullivan, president of the KAA board of directors, “and they are very careful to don the appropriate gear, minimizing the number of people exposed to patients. It is also clear the Volunteer Fire Company is doing that, as well.”

Prior to touching the patient or entering a residence, first responders are advised to ask patients if they have fever, chills, coughing or shortness of breath … have traveled out of the country … had contact with persons who traveled outside the country … or work with people who recently traveled. In addition, Middlesex Hospital reportedly has changed its protocol for potential COVID-19 patients, receiving them through a separate screening process and keeping them in rooms separate from others.

The State Department of Public Health on Thursday afternoon reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Killingworth — a resident over 60 who is self-isolating.

“This is a very difficult time for everyone, including many of our volunteers,” said O’Sullivan. “Many of them are over the age of 60 and have comorbid conditions or vulnerable family members in their homes. Even those who don’t fall into these categories still expose themselves to the disease rather than follow the social-distancing guidelines.

“These volunteers are dedicated to providing service to the people in this town but face the difficult decision of exposing themselves … and their families … to this disease. Some have had to step away from service temporarily, and it pains them to do so. Others have tried to fill the gaps, putting more stress on them and their families. This is a very personal decision, and I appreciate the efforts and dedication of all.”

At first glance, there was nothing extraordinary about Wednesday night’s meeting of Killingworth Ambulance Association EMTs. It convened the first Wednesday of the month, as the schedule dictates. There were 14 persons there, which is about normal. And the conversation was casual.

Again, normal.

But what made this event unusual was the subject that consumed the first half-hour of discussion: Coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19. Originating in China, the virus has spread throughout the world and recently infiltrated the United States, with death tolls rising daily.

“It hasn’t been diagnosed in Connecticut right now,” said Mike Haaga, the KAA’s Chief of Service, “but it will.”

For that reason, Haaga briefed EMTs on precautions to assume if and when they confront patients with respiratory distress, coughs, fevers or rashes — warning them that victims are potentially infectious with airborne pathogens and offering instructions on protective equipment, pre-hospital considerations and decontamination and follow-up procedures.

“I would emphasize that the standard protocol for respiratory patients is more than enough to protect us,” he told his listeners.

But what about the public at large? How does it protect itself? Decontamination, experts say, with the most effective decontaminant also the most logical.

“Soap and water,” said Haaga. “The CDC (Center for Disease Control) says that’s the best way to clean your hands.”

Most people know that. Nevertheless, soap and water isn’t always available. So some persons resort to cleaning with hand sanitizers, which leads to the obvious question: Is there much of a difference?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact, there is – especially when it comes to COVID-19. Alcohol-based sanitizers don’t kill all types of germs and may not remove harmful chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals. Handwashing with soap does, however, reduce the amounts of all types of germs.

So how do you know when to use them? Keep reading. Below you’ll find a guide to handwashing and sanitizer use, compliments of the CDC:

WHEN SHOULD I USE?

Soap and Water

1. Before, during and after preparing food.
2. Before eating.
3. Before and after caring for someone who is sick.
4. Before and after treating a cut or wound.
5. After bathroom use, changing diapers or cleaning up after a child who used the bathroom.
6. After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
7. After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages or animal waste.
8. After touching garbage.
9. If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

1. Before and after visiting a friend or a loved one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridium difficile (which causes severe diarrhea). If so, use soap and water.
2. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol and wash with soap and water as soon as you can.
3. Do NOT use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, for example, after gardening, playing outdoors or after fishing or camping (unless a handwashing station is not available). Wash your hands with soap and water instead.

HOW SHOULD I USE?

Soap and Water

1. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.
3. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the palms, backs, fingers, between your fingers and under our nails. Keep scrubbing for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
4. Rinse your hands under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizers to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in school and child-care facilities.

1. Apply. Put enough product on hands to cover all surfaces.
2. Rub hands together until they feel dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Note: Do not rinse or wipe off the hand sanitizer before it is dry. It may not work as well against germs.

(For more information visit the CDC handwashing website, www.cdc.gove/handwashing)

(UPDATE 3/15: The KAA announced today that the class has been canceled)

The Killingworth Ambulance Association’s first “Stop the Bleed” class of 2020 will be held Sunday, March 15, at the KAA’s headquarters on Route 81.

The class begins at 1 p.m., is free and is open to the public.

“Stop the Bleed” is a nationwide awareness campaign (www.bleedingcontrol.org) launched in 2015 by the White House and Department of Homeland Security and is designed to empower bystanders with the training to deal with traumatic events and emergency bleeding situations before help arrives.

Its value was underscored last October at Vinal Tech in Middletown when a state trooper responding to an accident implemented a “Stop the Bleed” kit to treat what was called “a catastrophic injury” involving profuse bleeding.

Officials later said the trooper’s quick thinking may have saved the victim’s life.

The KAA first offered “Stop the Bleed” classes in July, 2017, making Killingworth the first Connecticut town to have its citizens certified. Since that time it has conducted 20 classes and had two “Stop the Bleed” stations introduced to the Killingworth Town Hall and Public Library.

For more information please contact the KAA at (860) 663-2450.

Pictured above (L-R) are four of last year’s winners: Mikayla Nuhn, Brianna Shipman, Kyra Figuerelli and Emily Jennings.

Applications are being accepted for the 2020 Killingworth Ambulance Association scholarships, with money available to graduating seniors who are residents of Killingworth and were enrolled in public or private high schools.

To be considered, applicants must plan on attending continuing-education institutions (two or four years) and have been accepted at a school. They must also major in the medical, emergency services (fire, police, etc.) or other allied fields, have performed community service and maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Completed applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, April 17, 2020, with certificates of scholarships awarded at the end of the school year.

In each of the past two years, the KAA awarded scholarships to 11 graduating seniors now enrolled in colleges across the country. Last year’s winners were Emily Jennings, Kyra Figuerelli, Brianna Livingston, Brianna Shipman and Mikayla Nuhn – all from Haddam-Killingworth High School.

A sixth recipient, Grace Murphy, attended Mercy High School in Middletown.

For more information, please contact the Killingworth Ambulance Association at (860) 663-2450.

New year, new ambulance.

OK, not exactly new. But the vehicle that was damaged last month and sent away for repairs returned Friday to the Killingworth Ambulance Association. The ambulance had been involved in an accident in early December while responding to a call.

It was the second time last year that the KAA ambulance was disabled, and it was the second time it had to be sent to the Eastford Fire and Rescue Sales to be serviced. It was also the second time in 10 months that the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department came to the rescue, lending one of its ambulances to Killingworth while its vehicle was under repair.

“Killingworth Ambulance wants to, again, thank Clinton for the use of its ambulance while ours was under repair,” said Dan O’Sullivan, president of the Killingworth Ambulance Association. “Clinton’s generosity minimized the amount of time we had to rely on Mutual Aid to provide coverage to the citizens of Killingworth, keeping response times as short as possible.”

The Clinton Fire Department is used to coming to the rescue – but not usually to the aid of another ambulance.

Nevertheless, that happened twice this year, with both calls made by the Killingworth Ambulance Association. For the second time in nine months the KAA ambulance this week was disabled after it was involved in a minor traffic accident.

Responding to a medical emergency Monday evening at the Jensen communities, the ambulance was struck as it made a right turn off Route 81 by another vehicle that apparently lost control on the icy road.

According to those at the scene, there were no injuries, but the ambulance was rendered inoperable. It was later sent to Eastford Fire and Rescue for repair.

Immediately following the collision, a request was made for a mutual aid ambulance while the Killingworth Fire Rescue and Middlesex Paramedic provided care for the patient.

As was the case in March when the KAA ambulance was involved in a minor mishap, the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department responded, too – lending one of its three ambulances while the KAA vehicle is out of service.

It is unclear how long the ambulance will be disabled. Until it returns, the KAA will continue to operate the Clinton Fire Department’s vehicle.

“While the ambulance was temporarily out of service, emergency medical calls were covered by the mutual aid association for the 40 hours that we did not have access to an ambulance,” said Dan O’Sullivan, president of the KAA board of directors. “Our good friends at Clinton have once again loaned us their ambulance while ours is being repaired.

“We thank them, and we thank the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company for the extra assistance they provide when mutual aid is called in. At this time, we do not know when our ambulance will be back in service, but we will be covering calls with the Clinton ambulance until it is.”

(The photos below are of Jim Lally this month in his Schumack Construction office and in the early 1980s grading the KAA parking lot).

Jim Lally has been a resident of Killingworth since 1972, and, as a former Killingworth Ambulance Association board member, says he’s “passionate” about the association. But as a resident who contributed so much to the community that he was named its Citizen of the Year in 2012, Jim Lally admits he’s also concerned about the KAA’s future.

The reason: A shrinking pool of volunteers serving as first responders.

“There are good people in Killingworth who want to volunteer,” said Lally, who owns and manages Schumack Engineered Construction in Clinton, “but the ambulance association needs to get out there and let people know: Get involved!”

Lally has a point. The KAA is not unlike other emergency volunteer services in the area … or the country … trying to interest persons in becoming EMTs or EMRs. There’s a shortage of volunteers, with the KAA last year hanging a “Volunteers Needed” sign outside its Route 81 headquarters. That was when its number of EMTs shrunk to 17 from a high of 25. It is now at 22, with one EMR.

That’s better than many rural areas but not enough to prevent NBC News last month from detailing what it termed a national “crisis” in a story entitled, “What if you call 911 and no one comes?” It’s a good question and one that has so much of Lally’s attention that, when he made his annual donation to the KAA this summer, the contribution was so substantial it gained special attention at a board meeting.

“Why did I do it?” he said. “Because I’m very passionate about the ambulance. I feel so much about it.”

To understand why, you must return to the summer of 1960 when Lally, then 20, drove his sister home from Madison to Wallingford. It was late June on a rainy Tuesday evening, and the roads were slick from a heavy rain. As Lally passed through Guilford on Route 1, his car slid on the wet surface, spun out of control and skidded off the road — not stopping until it hit a tree.

Lally suffered life-threatening injuries, but survived. His 18-year-old sister did not.

“I put the steering wheel through my chest,” he said, “and I was in the hospital almost six-to-seven months. But my life was saved by the Guilford ambulance crew. That’s how good they were, and I’m very thankful. After that, I always said I’d give back to an organization like that … because it’s a matter of saving lives. And that’s critical.”

Lally admitted he hadn’t volunteered before. But all that changed that evening. When he recovered, he jumped at opportunities to help where and when he could.

“I felt I owed it,” he said. “I got to know a couple of guys (Guilford EMTs) after the fact. I kept in touch with them. And I always felt it’s important – if you can afford to – to give back. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be time.”

Or it can be both, and Jim Lally is proof.

Not long after moving to Killingworth, he joined the KAA and served on its board for nearly a decade. Then he donated the services of his construction company toward the building of the KAA’s two-story headquarters in 1982 (it was completed in 1983).  In fact, he still has a 4X6 color photo of him driving a bulldozer as he grades the building’s parking lot.

“Jim was quiet,” said Don McDougal, a KAA board member who made the group’s third-ever ambulance run in 1971 as an EMT. “But if you needed anything done, he did it. And I know he did a lot for the ambulance (KAA) when we first started. No questions asked. He just did it.”

Lally has been chairman of the Killingworth Parks and Recreation Department. He co-chaired construction of the new EOC building. He donated the services of Schumack Construction toward the creation of Eric Auer Park … the renovations to Irene Sheldon Park … construction of the Sugar Shack at Parmelee Farm … and work at Rocco Reale Memorial field and the Killingworth Elementary School. He also supported youth sports leagues, the HKYFS, Pumpkin Run and Lions Club Concert Series and provided materials for the Killingworth Town Picnic.

In short, his fingerprints are everywhere in town.

“I love the volunteer spirit,” Lally said. “And I love the volunteer spirit of Killingworth. It’s the engine that drives this town.”

One of Lally’s favorite stories involving the KAA and its volunteers dates back to the 1970s when former KAA president, founder and EMT Charlie Smith answered an emergency call on Route 81. Smith, so active locally that people who know him call him “a professional volunteer,” rushed to the scene and helped pull a pig out of a burning building. Nobody was injured, but Smith was so concerned about the pig that he stayed behind to comfort it, rubbing snow that had fallen along its injured back.

“It made me feel better,” Smith said, smiling when retold the story, “but I don’t know about the pig.”

Another story Lally recites involves EMTs rescuing a grandson after he was injured in an ATV accident at Cockaponsett State Forest. It happened when the vehicle in which he was riding crashed into a tree, injuring the young man so seriously that he was rushed by ambulance to Hartford Hospital.

He not only survived but works for Lally today.

“The ambulance company saved him,” he said. “He was in shock, but they got there when they could and they stabilized him. They saved his life.

“Those are the kinds of things that people don’t know, and it’s the kind of thing that needs to be brought out about volunteers. There are stories like that all around.”

Then he paused.

“We cannot let ourselves fall into the trap of having someone tell us we don’t have enough responders,” he said. “That would break my heart.”

Lally’s concerns are echoed by Madison Ambulance Association director Chris Bernier, who last month said the group is “not receiving the funding that is adequate for the town’s safety” and asked for more help to provide for additional paramedic support. According to a recent report in Philadelphia’s City Journal, “declining volunteerism is especially pronounced in America’s rural counties, many of which – with aging populations and a declining financial base – must support increased support for ambulatory and fire services.”

“Everyone has the problem,” Lally said. “What I don’t want is to have a professional ambulance have to come to us … where we have to pay them … because we don’t have enough responders. That would be catastrophic. But that’s where we are now. We need to get more people there and more interest — because if you’re passionate, there’s no stopping it.”

Jim Lally is passionate. That’s why he continues to support the Killingworth Ambulance Association, continues to support the town of Killingworth and continues to call volunteers to action.

“With the Killingworth Ambulance Association,” he said, “you have an organization that lays its heart on the line. I just hope people see the need more than there is now.”

For over two years, the Killingworth Ambulance Association has offered “Stop the Bleed” courses to the community – stressing the importance of knowing how to deal with traumatic events and emergency bleeding situations before help arrives.

Now we know why.

There was an accident last week at Vinal Tech High School in Middletown where a teacher nearly lost his hand after it was stuck in a wood planer. The instructor was rushed immediately to an area hospital to be treated for what was termed a “catastrophic injury,” involving arterial bleeding and partial amputation.

But the damage could have been far worse were it not for a state trooper who was equipped with a “Stop the Bleed” kit. That officer was identified as Trooper Alejandro Bugatti, who is the school’s resource officer, and he was applauded for quick thinking that, state police said, may have saved the victim’s life.

How?

Read the Hartford Courant’s account of the incident here:

https://www.courant.com/breaking-news/hc-br-vinal-tech-teacher-arm-injury-20191022-me6v4udjhnfmfkuxwbfwbrlzom-story.html

(Pictured left to right: Dan Siegel, Mark Clifton and Lisa Anderson)

Dan Siegel, Lisa Anderson and Mark Clifton were honored at the Killingworth Ambulance Association’s annual banquet last weekend for their service as EMTs over the past year.

The three were the top responders among the KAA’s EMTs, with Siegel answering the most calls, Anderson second and Clifton third. In fact, Siegel – an active member of the KAA since 2007 — was involved in nearly half the calls, responding to 156 of the 329, or 47 percent.

Anderson answered 133 and Clifton 130.

All are among the top responders each year, with Clifton leading the KAA in 2017-18 and Anderson second.

“They are always near the top in calls taken,” said KAA president Dan O’Sullivan. “They have all responded to over a third of all calls for emergency medical assistance in Killingworth in the last year – with Dan responding to almost half. That is amazing.

“They carry out their responsibilities with great pride and professionalism. This is a volunteer activity, and the amount of personal time and energy – along with the effect on their families for this level of response – shows an outstanding commitment to helping all the citizens of Killingworth.

“Calls can take two to three hours and occur at all hours of the day and night. The ambulance association deeply thanks all volunteers … but especially these three, who have gone so far and above the call of duty. Please join me in thanking them personally if you know them or see them.”

The annual banquet, held at La Foresta, was attended by KAA board members, EMTs, representatives of the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company, neighboring ambulance associations involved in Mutual Aid with the KAA, town officials and retired EMT service providers.

“All of these people, with their time, dedication and sacrifice, are critical,” said O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan and Zach Skalandunas were also honored for their years of service. Each has been an EMT the past five years.

The KAA’s James Fretz (l) and Killingworth First Selectwoman Cathy Iino (r) stand next to the “Stop the Bleed” station installed at Town Hall.

When the Killingworth Ambulance Association approached First Selectwoman Cathy Iino about installing a “Stop the Bleed” station in Town Hall, she never wavered with a decision.

“I would say it was a no-brainer,” she said.

Now it’s more than that. It’s a done deal.

For the second time in eight days the KAA on Thursday afternoon placed a bleeding control station in one of Killingworth’s public spaces. But unlike the first installation — which happened Aug. 9 in the Killingworth library – this one comes with a back story that involves Town Hall.

In fact, it involves Cathy Iino.

She and other Town Hall employees took a “Stop the Bleed” course in May, 2018, with Iino putting the lesson into practice this spring when she lacerated her right thumb with a kitchen knife on a cutting board. The accident involved bleeding, demanded immediate medical attention and required stitches.

In short, everything she learned in class.

“I cut myself quite seriously after that class,” she said, “so I almost … without thinking … knew to do the compression and elevation and get medical treatment quite fast.”

“Stop the Bleed” is a nationwide awareness campaign (www.bleedingcontrol.org) launched in 2015 by the White House and Department of Homeland Security and is designed to empower bystanders with the training to deal with traumatic events and emergency bleeding situations before help arrives.

The KAA first offered “Stop the Bleed” classes in July, 2017, making Killingworth the first Connecticut town to have its citizens certified. Since that time it has conducted 21 classes, with another scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Killingworth Ambulance Association on Route 81.

The class lasts one hour and is free and open to the public.

The KAA first offered bleeding control stations this month, with the KAA’s James Fretz installing the storage cases at the Killingworth library and Town Hall. Each case contains seven “Stop the Bleed” kits to treat traumatic blood loss, and each kit includes a tourniquet, gauze, quick-clot and gloves.

The KAA hopes to install more stations in the near future.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Iino said, “because we all took the ‘Stop the Bleed’ training, and we understand that time is of the essence – and that, therefore, the quicker we can take action the better.”