First Responders Update

I have been inundated with emails, texts, and phone calls inquiring about the Skidaway Island First Responders’ status since our pagers were shut down on October 10 of last year. Trying to navigate this tumultuous time has definitely taken its toll on all of us. We are still searching for answers ourselves. I will let the entire community know of any changes.

The last handful of my articles have been about our fight to work for FREE and render aid whenever necessary. I’d like to shift a little, and get back to our roots and what this monthly article used to be about -- helpful hints about EMS and why it’s important to recognize symptoms and act quickly.

Strokes are emergent. If you or someone you love is possibly having one, DO NOT WAIT TO CALL. Time is crucial, and waiting to see if the symptoms get better could lead to both neurological and physical deficits.

If you experience any tingling, numbness, or weakness in your face, arms, or legs, which comes on suddenly, call for help. A stroke can affect your eyes and cause blurred or double vision. It can cause you to feel off balance or even make it difficult for you to form a sentence. THIS IS NOT NORMAL!  Low blood sugar can MIMIC those signs, too, so be aware if you’re diabetic. The paramedic often will check your blood sugar if you have any of the above symptoms.

Time is of the essence when it comes to brain bleeds. If you or someone you are with experiences any of the above, call for help immediately and WRITE down the time of onset of first symptom. That is a crucial detail. Often onset time is unknown because someone might wake up like that, they might have been alone when it started, or YOU may be the patient who can’t discern that information based on how you’re feeling. If it’s witnessed, write it down.

We often hear a patient state they woke up with a terrible headache that is getting worse. If you have no history of migraines or high blood pressure and your head is “killing you”, CALL. Keep in mind, when EMS shows up and your blood pressure is checked and is abnormally high WITH SYMPTOMS AND without history, most often the Paramedic will recommend transport to an emergency room. Please be mindful that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Listen to your body. We are innately wired to ignore and deflect when we feel “off”. We don’t want to bother someone or seem dramatic. Well, when it comes to heart health, pay attention. If you can suddenly feel your heart racing or skipping, you are nauseous or sweating, or all of the above, it could be a sign of Atrial Fibrillation (Afib). Afib can lead to a stroke. Call for help.

Anxiety can mimic Afib. If you have a history of anxiety or panic attacks, it’s easy to ignore a rapid or skipping heartbeat. We like to diagnose ourselves with Google searches and television shows we have seen. Although you might be correct in self-diagnosing, it’s not the prudent thing to do in some cases. It doesn’t hurt to have someone check your vital signs and confirm one way or the other.

Heart attacks present completely different for men and women. If you have chest pain, pressure, discomfort, jaw, or arm pain, and even pain in your upper back between your shoulder blades, that could be your body telling you something isn’t right. In those cases, DO NOT DRIVE yourself to a hospital. Call EMS if your symptoms are sudden and worsening.

When you fall and think you’re injured, call. Many people try to get up and figure things out before calling. If you have fallen and are in pain but can’t isolate where or whether it’s severe, please call someone before you get up. Call a neighbor, a relative, or a friend first if you don’t think you need EMS. I implore all of you to make yourself a priority and not ignore your body after a fall. The older we get, the more likely we fracture or break something.

In closing, the Skidaway Island First Responders thank Chief Phil Koster who has been Chatham Emergency Services Chief Operating Officer since 2018. Chief Koster has left Chatham Emergency Services to pursue another path. We would be remiss if we didn’t publicly acknowledge all his help, guidance, mentorship, and unwavering support of our organization.

Chief Koster was always a phone call away and as someone who started out as a volunteer himself, he knew the value we provided to our community. For me personally, Chief Koster has been an instrumental part of why our relationship with Chatham Emergency Services (CES) lasted as long as it did. He thanked me repeatedly for what we provided not only to our community, but our help with his personnel to make their jobs easier, too. The Skidaway Island First Responders wish Chief Koster good luck and all the best in his next chapter. He will be missed so very much.

Stay safe out there!