Maidstone health complex staff, long term care residents and corporate donors look on as paramedics Brenna Giesbrecht, Sheri Thorimbert, and Rose Nash demonstrate how their new equipment will help out in an emergency situation. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
First responders and medical staff in Maidstone were given a major boost this week when some brand-new health equipment arrived.
The Maidstone Health Care Auxiliary members held an appreciation ceremony, complete with refreshments and a demonstration of the goods, at the Maidstone Health Complex on July 18 for the donors who helped out.
“When we get a request for high-priced equipment, we go begging to the community and that’s what we did this time. We sent out five request packages with information and out of those five, one we didn’t hear from at all, but the others stepped up immediately. Four of them raised enough money to pay for this equipment here,” said Gillian Churn, Maidstone Health Care Auxiliary president, pointing to two brand-new machines.
The first piece of equipment is a Lucas 3 chest compression system, which Churn says is a crucial addition to their facility.
“If someone’s heart stops they can strap this on and it does consistent chest compressions at the right depth and the right rate. When you have an ambulance going out, quite often, there’s only two people in it and one has to drive and so … if there’s someone driving they can strap this on and this enables the person in the back to be able to administer drugs or do whatever. It’s going to be used in the facility here— and then it can be taken with the ambulance … it’s fully mobile,” explained Churn, pointing to the device—which is about the size of a hiking backpack.
“The pack includes a spine board that can be used as a hard surface, the machine clips into place and is centred over the chest of the patient. It adjusts to the pressure in the chest and the size of the patient automatically to perform perfect CPR,” said ambulance staff member Sheri Thorimbert.
Thorimbert said the new equipment will prove to be very helpful in emergency situations, especially when one paramedic is in the driver’s seat.
“This will free up more hands to help out others that may need help at the scene of an emergency,” said Thorimbert.
The second device, which will remain at the doctor’s office within the Maidstone Health Complex, is used to treat those suffering from skin conditions and is a very handy addition, especially for seniors in the area.
“One company gave us more than what we needed so we bought that machine,” explained Churn.
“That’s a phototherapy machine that’s used to treat people with skin conditions. Some people used to have to go to Lloyd or to Saskatoon for treatments that sometimes only take two minutes. A lot of the elderly people are just loving it because they don’t drive out of town, so they would have to arrange for rides.”
Roughly $18,000 was raised to purchase the two machines from the following donors: G3 Elevators, RM of Eldon, Synergy Credit Union, and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
“It’s important for us to help out in the communities that we live and work, and helping health foundations is right on top of our pillars of the most important things in our region,” said CNRL stakeholder relations advisor Kim Foisy.
“It affects all of our employees, everyone in the community and it’s one of the most important things we can give back to.”
The Maidstone Health Care Auxiliary has been around for 83 years now.
“It started in 1940, and they started with just the basics—they raised a little bit of money but they made mattress covers and pillowcases out of flour sacks. We’ve evolved a little since then,” said Churn.
“We purchase equipment—we’ve purchased TVs, computers, catheter bags, wheelchairs.
“Our biggest fundraiser that’s been going since 1960 is pie bingo, and we run those in the fall for seven weeks. The cards are still only five cents a card, can’t put the price up because it’s a big thing for families and children. So it’s still five cents a card, but on some nights we make up to $650—so that’s a lot of people playing bingo.”
