Good morning! Please forward to all your members, as I do not have an EMT email address list built.
Hopefully you know by now, we have added a labeled “sensory kit” to each ambulance and supervisory unit, containing valuable tools for patients with sensory sensitivities. These kits were put together by Eagle Scout Matthew Smith of Smithsburg, MD. He wanted his Eagle Scout project to help First Responders, and quite frankly, he nailed it.
I did videotape his presentation, and I am currently trying to figure out how to post that to the WCQA.net website for reference. Meanwhile….
Contained in these kits are:
– a laminated inventory list. Anything listed in italics is considered “disposable and replaceable”, as the child can keep those toys we give them. I will eventually have a cache of replacements and may be utilizing the ucapit to stock them as needed.
-Laminated picture communication tools in English and Spanish to include a faces pain scale
-Laminated “picture menu” of the objects from which your patient can choose
-Various fidget toys. Note: the bubbles work great for pediatric work of breathing and lung sound assessments. If they’re blowing bubbles, they aren’t crying or talking 😊
-Weighted blanket. These are washable
-headphones with ear covers – the earphone covers are disposable and I will have replacements -sunglasses -teddy bear – can be used for comfort, but is mostly meant for patients to point to anatomy that hurts -white board with dry erase markers for the non-verbal that can communicate with pictures or words. Coincidentally, also sometimes works for aphasic or expressively aphasic stroke patients. -feelings flash cards with American Sign Language -antibacterial wipes to help keep everything clean
Please make sure you know where these kits are and place them on your weekly inventory checklists. More importantly – please use them.
During the rounds, there were photos taken at each station – please see the Washington County DES/Washington County Government facebook page to tag/use photos for your respective companies.
If your company would like to send Matthew a (highly encouraged) thank you letter, please contact his parents at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>.
A special Thank You to Smithsburg EMS who provided a safe space for Scout Troup 14 to assemble these kits, and CRS for providing him a welcoming atmosphere to present his project.
Have a safe and healthy day.
Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division of Emergency Services 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 (cell) 301-491-2454 (office) 240-313-4376 (fax) 240-313-4375
Hopefully you know by now, we have added a labeled “sensory kit” to each ambulance and supervisory unit, containing valuable tools for patients with sensory sensitivities. These kits were put together by Eagle Scout Matthew Smith of Smithsburg, MD. He wanted his Eagle Scout project to help First Responders, and quite frankly, he nailed it.
I did videotape his presentation, and I am currently trying to figure out how to post that to the WCQA.net website for reference. Meanwhile….
Contained in these kits are:
– a laminated inventory list. Anything listed in italics is considered “disposable and replaceable”, as the child can keep those toys we give them. I will eventually have a cache of replacements and may be utilizing the ucapit to stock them as needed.
-Laminated picture communication tools in English and Spanish to include a faces pain scale
-Laminated “picture menu” of the objects from which your patient can choose
-Various fidget toys. Note: the bubbles work great for pediatric work of breathing and lung sound assessments. If they’re blowing bubbles, they aren’t crying or talking 😊
-Weighted blanket. These are washable
-headphones with ear covers – the earphone covers are disposable and I will have replacements -sunglasses -teddy bear – can be used for comfort, but is mostly meant for patients to point to anatomy that hurts -white board with dry erase markers for the non-verbal that can communicate with pictures or words. Coincidentally, also sometimes works for aphasic or expressively aphasic stroke patients. -feelings flash cards with American Sign Language -antibacterial wipes to help keep everything clean
Please make sure you know where these kits are and place them on your weekly inventory checklists. More importantly – please use them.
During the rounds, there were photos taken at each station – please see the Washington County DES/Washington County Government facebook page to tag/use photos for your respective companies.
If your company would like to send Matthew a (highly encouraged) thank you letter, please contact his parents at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>.
A special Thank You to Smithsburg EMS who provided a safe space for Scout Troup 14 to assemble these kits, and CRS for providing him a welcoming atmosphere to present his project.
Have a safe and healthy day.
Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division of Emergency Services 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 (cell) 301-491-2454 (office) 240-313-4376 (fax) 240-313-4375